Greetings, Toronto OTs!
I would be honoured to represent our local at the 2026 ETFO Annual General Meeting. I have attended four previous AGMs as a delegate, and each time I attend, I learn more about ETFO’s operation, priorities, and the range of needs education workers have across the province.

I make my vote count by being present on the floor throughout business sessions, and I gain additional insight by attending caucuses and networking with colleagues across multiple ETFO locals, learning how best to act in solidarity with members with a range of lived experience. Helping our delegation communicate with one another is a priority for me, as I know we make the biggest impact when we act together.

Thank you for your consideration!

In solidarity,
Laura Barrett
(pronouns: she/they)

My name is Gabrielle Blais-Jones and I am seeking re-election as a delegate to the ETFO Annual Meeting. I have previously been a delegate to the Annual Meeting four times, attending every year since 2022. I take my responsibility as a delegate seriously: I am present on the floor in order to vote on motions and prepared to speak at the microphone on the important issues that affect us as Occasional Teacher and as individuals. I have also put forward motions on behalf of the Local on two occasions, bringing to light the unprecedentedly high use of uncertified emergency replacement persons in the TDSB and across the province. In addition to this, I think it’s essential for our delegation to work as a group, and to respect each other as individuals in order to properly represent the Local.

Thank you for reading!

ELECT MARISA GALLIPPI

Annual Meeting Delegate 2026

AS YOUR Annual Meeting Delegate, I am committed to the following:

• Advocacy and Representation: I will utilize my leadership experience to highlight critical issues and advocate for all Toronto Occasional Teachers within both ETFO and the TDSB.
• Collaboration: I aim to build stronger connections between Toronto Occasional Teachers and our Local and Provincial Executive representatives while vigorously defending our interests at all levels.
• Collective Action: I will leverage our collective voice to address urgent concerns regarding a living wage, classroom violence, Special Education support, and increasing usage of ERPs, and increasing class sizes.

My qualifications and proven leadership experience include:

• President, Released Executive Officer 2024, 2025, 2026
• First Vice President, Released Executive Officer
• Member of the Collective Bargaining Committee
• Member of the Health and Safety Committee
• Member of the Political Action Committee

I look forward to the opportunity to represent you and continue advocating for the profession.

A UNION IS DEFINED BY ITS MEMBERS ELECT MARISA GALLIPPI

I have been a delegate to the AGM for close to 25 years, first as a contract teacher with ETT and for the last 11 years as an occasional teacher with this local.

I am very familiar with the procedures and the history of our local’s presence at the AGM. I have always supported the motions submitted by our local to improve, protect and benefit our members. I have on many occasions spoke at the AGM to defend the working conditions of our kindergarten teachers,

French teachers and those of us, retired teachers, still supporting our colleges every day in the classrooms.

Know that I will listen, pay attention, speak and ask the pertinent questions, and vote to support the motions that will protect and improve your professional future. ETFO needs to work for us and the AGM is one the ways we can make our voice count.

The ABCs OF GAIL JAMES FOR 2026 AGM DELEGATE

I’m an Active soul, I’m a Busy bee,
I’m Competent by far,
An 8X Delegate, I’m Excited now,
To help our local go Far.
At General meetings, workshops, conferences too,
I Hurry to make connections to seal.
I’ve proven Interest attending member meetings
As I Juggle all commitments for real.
As a physics and world gifted presenter,
My Knowledge base is vast.
In Local and international schools
I can certainly Multi task.
I Never lose sight of my goal.
OT work satisfies me.
I Participate in all local offerings.
It’s not a Question of where I should be!
I’m Really seeking your support.
I’m reliable, empathy shows
Interest in all OT teachers,
For our benefit, I’m ready to go.
Service on multiple committees-
Budget, Constitution, to name two,
As well as Labour Council, Retired Teachers,
Social Committee and Members New.
I believe in Team work
I work tirelessly too.
I do Understand
What we must Vitally do!
From these Written words I hope it’s clear,
This “X – emplary” candidate you see
Is one You should definitely go ahead
With thoughtful Zeal and vote for me!

Your Voice. Your Experience. Your Advocate. VOTE SOPHIE KROESEN

I have the experience and commitment to serve you effectively as your ETFO Annual Meeting Delegate because I listen to you, I have no fear and I will always ask the hard questions that hold ETFO and the Board accountable.

What challenges are you facing in your workplace? What needs to be addressed at the ETFO AM? How do you feel after a day of teaching? What are positives and the frustrations you experience as an Occasional Teacher?

Our membership is diverse, and while no one can fully understand every individual experience, I commit to listening to each and every one of you. Your concerns, ideas, and grassroots knowledge matter.

As your delegate, I will bring your voices to over 600 representatives at the ETFO Annual Meeting. You deserve to be heard. You deserve respect as an Occasional Teacher. You deserve fair and equitable treatment in your workplace.

“A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” — Malcolm X

I stand for respect, dignity, and fairness for Elementary Occasional Teachers in Toronto.

Vote for a delegate who listens.

Vote for a delegate who stands with you. Vote for Sophie Kroesen.

It is with great excitement that I put my name forward as a candidate for Annual Meeting 2026. I have attended the majority of annual meetings for the past decade and have taken my responsibilities as representing the membership with reverence. I have moved motions, debated at the mic, and attended many caucuses, including the Occasional Teachers caucus, the Women’s caucus, the 2SLGBTQIA+ caucus, and the Racialized Members and Allies caucus. I represent members by consistently voting for motions that will serve the membership best, and actively vote against and speak against motions that will not serve the membership. I have the experience and drive required to be effective and the responsibility to make sure that I am in the voters seat at all scheduled times. Please consider voting for me to attend as a delegate to the 2026 annual meeting. Thank you and I appreciate you and the work you all do greatly!

Jason Martorino began his career as a contract teacher in the TDSB in 2011 before moving to occasional teaching in 2014 to pursue goals outside the classroom. Since then, he has served in both daily and LTO roles and has experienced a wide range of inspiring and challenging situations across the TDSB. He served as Chair of Professional Learning for this local in 2018/2019 and was elected to an Executive at Large position in 2019/2020. He returned to OISE the following year to complete a master’s degree in Developmental Psychology, with a focus on statistics, scientific methodology, and program evaluation, which he will complete in April 2026.

Since his last term on the executive, Jason has developed a broad set of skills and experiences in education-related research and has co-authored two scientific papers for journal submission. During this period, he has been dismayed to witness the education system being undermined by successive misguided provincial political decisions, as well as attempts by the school board to erode local members’ job benefits.

He would be proud to use his strong analytical and communication skills to support the executive in advocating for our education system.

Thank you!

Jason Martorino

My name is Cynthia McCarrey. I am an Occasional Teacher and have had the fortunate opportunity to be a delegate for the ETFO Annual Meeting in the last couple of years. Previously, I was a member of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto and also had been a delegate for 12 years. I teach French Immersion and have taught all grades. I have always been involved in our union. Presently I am on the Retired Teachers Committee. I understand the challenges occasional teachers and LTOs face on a daily basis and would be thrilled to attend this year’s AGM, advocating for members by discussing and voting on the priorities of our organization!

Dear Members,

I am excited to submit my nomination to represent our local as a delegate at the ETFO Annual Meeting. As an occasional teacher, I understand the unique challenges we face in our profession, from job security to professional development opportunities. I am committed to ensuring that our voices are heard at the provincial level.

Active engagement in our union is essential to strengthening our collective bargaining power and advocating for equitable working conditions. As a delegate, I will listen to members’ concerns, participate in meaningful discussions, and vote on motions that reflect our shared priorities. I am especially passionate about issues affecting occasional teachers, such as fair hiring practices, access to benefits, and improved support in our roles.

I would be honoured to represent you and bring our local’s perspectives to the forefront of ETFO’s decision making process. I look forward to the opportunity to serve and welcome your support.

In solidarity,

K. Justin Ngo

Hello ETFO-OT Colleagues,

As a Tamil refugee who fled civil war and genocide in Sri Lanka, my lived experience with injustice has shaped my commitment to equity, activism, and strong union advocacy. I am seeking the opportunity to represent our Local at the ETFO Annual Meeting with integrity, preparation, and purpose.

Over my ten-year career as an OT/LTO, I have served ETFO–Toronto OT Local in various leadership roles, including Interim 2nd Vice President. I currently work full-time as a Health and Safety Inspector and serve as the OT Representative on the TDSB Joint Health & Safety Committee. I have chaired the Racialized Members Committee and the Political Action Committee, and I regularly facilitate workshops focused on equity, social justice, and member empowerment.

As a voting delegate at the ETFO Provincial Annual Meeting since 2020 and a representative at the Ontario Federation of Labour Convention, I understand the importance of informed debate, constitutional procedures, and thoughtful decision-making.

If elected, I will represent our Local with a strong voice, advocate for policies that improve working conditions and member well-being, and ensure our members’ concerns are brought forward at the provincial level. I respectfully ask for your support.

Esteemed fellow OT’s,

Two years ago, at my first AGM, I spoke about my 10 years as a contract teacher, and contrasted that with my last 5+ years as a TDSB occasional teacher. I’ve seen the differences in training and professional development opportunities between contract and occasional teachers.

With 1000+ pairs of eyes from all across Ontario on me, I adamantly pleaded that the delegation begin bridging the funding gap; and just a couple minutes later the delegation voted to approve the motion.

Now, did I say the magic words to get that motion

passed? ̄\_()_/ ̄ But I am excited to keep trying to make a difference for our members.

Before and after you elected me to our Local Executive (and as an AGM Delegate) in 2025, I refused to allow anything, or anyone, to derail our Executive’s ability to keep moving forward. I’ve represented our local’s interests, and will continue to diligently represent our members’ interests, from September all the way through the Summer.

For Delegate at this summer’s Annual General Meeting, representing ETFO’s Toronto Occasional Teachers Local, please vote for me.

I’m Theo Shivnaraine.