The Durham District School Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Trustee Jill Thompson as First Nations Representative to the Board of Trustees for the remainder of the 2022-2026 term of the Board. 

In accordance with Ontario Regulation 462/97 and Section 188 of the Education Act, Jill Thompson was put forward by the Council of Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation for appointment as First Nations Representative on the Board. The Board of Trustees passed a motion approving the appointment and Jill Thompson will be sworn in at the next Board meeting, taking place on Monday, March 20, 2023. Once sworn in, Ms. Thompson will have the same rights, roles and responsibilities as all other trustees.

This appointment aligns with DDSB’s commitment to upholding the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the Board’s responsibilities and commitments set out in its Indigenous Education Policy.

DDSB students, families, employees and community members who identify as First Nation, Métis or Inuit will benefit from being able to see themselves represented on the Board of Trustees and will also benefit from having a Board member who understands their perspectives, lived experiences, strengths and needs and can bring that to the Board table.

The appointment of an Indigenous Trustee to the Board of Trustees will support the growth of a meaningful partnership between Treaty Partners and the DDSB and will foster respectful collaboration as highlighted in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, in order to address the legacy and ongoing effects of the past and make visible the possibilities of moving forward. 

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I look forward to working alongside trustees and hope that my appointment to the Board of Trustees will assist the DDSB in continuing to prioritize and uphold Indigenous Rights. I hope to strengthen the relationship and ongoing collaboration between Treaty Partners, First Nation, Métis and Inuit students, families and staff and the DDSB.

- Jill Thompson, Indigenous Trustee, DDSB Board of Trustees

Ms. Thompson’s appointment to the DDSB’s Board of Trustees is an important step towards ongoing reconciliation and to upholding the Board’s responsibilities and commitments set out in the Indigenous Education Policy. We look forward to learning from and working together with Trustee Thompson to meet the needs of all Indigenous students, families and staff in the DDSB community.

- Donna Edwards, Chair, DDSB Board of Trustees 

The Durham District School Board (DDSB) is responsible for public education in the rural settings of Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog Townships and the urban settings of Ajax, Whitby, Pickering, and Oshawa. The DDSB employs 10,000 teaching and educational services staff. With 136 elementary and secondary schools and learning centres, the DDSB accommodates more than 76,000 regular day students and thousands more who take advantage of a wide variety of continuing education and adult credit courses. More information can be found on the DDSB’s website at ddsb.ca. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @ddsbschools, Instagram @ddsbschools and YouTube at DurhamDSB.