Meet Stephen Linton
Click the image for a quick video introduction
Thank you to all of those who I have met while canvassing and out and about in Pickering. I encourage you all to vote whether online between October 17th - October 24th or in person on October 24th.
I am proud to receive an endorsement from the Durham Region Labour Council who has been a voice of working people in Durham Region since 1942.
Working with you for you.
Meet Stephen Linton - DDSB Trustee Candidate Pickering
A trusted and action-oriented community leader, centered in listening, equity, and transparency
As a Pickering resident for the past 20 years and father of two, I am proud to be seeking the office of Durham District School Board (DDSB) trustee for the City of Pickering. My two children, one entering postsecondary in the fall and the other in elementary school, serve as my greatest inspiration on this journey.
Having worked closely with communities up against unfair wages, rising unaffordability, and youth at risk of or experiencing violence, I have a deep understanding of how important quality education is to change the trajectory of a child's life and break generational cycles. For this reason, I decided to run for DDSB trustee to advocate for the services, facilities and resources needed to prevent and solve the challenges students face today.
In my 10+ years of community development and public service experience, working for the Toronto District School Board and the City of Toronto, I worked relentlessly to support marginalized and hard-working communities who face barriers in accessing their fair share of this country’s prosperity and growth. As your school board trustee, I will bring that same devotion, skill and tact to create results you can see.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the City of Pickering resides on land within the jurisdiction of the Williams Treaties and on the traditional territory of the Mississauga's of Scugog Island First Nations, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. This acknowledgement reminds us of our responsibilities to our relationships and the ancestral lands on which we learn, share, and live.
Ancestral Acknowledgement
We also acknowledge all Treaty peoples - including those who came here as settlers - as migrants either in this generation or in generations past - and those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly forcibly displanted Africans, brought here as a result of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery. Today, I pay tribute to those ancestors of African origin and descent.
Your next DDSB Trustee for Pickering
Voting opens online: October 17th - October 24th ~ In person voting takes place on October 24th
Click here for more information about the 2022 Municipal Election
Community involvement
I dedicate much of my free time as an active volunteer member of a number of Anti-Racism committees such as Centennial College, Pickering Library and DCDSB.
I am also serving as the president of DurhamONE, a non-for-profit organization focused on amplifying the voices of diverse communities across Pickering to create meaningful change.
While also an avid soccer fan, I had the privilege of coaching in the recreation league with Pickering Soccer club for four years, combining my love for soccer with my passion to support growth and collaboration between young people.
I am certain that my energetic and hopeful approach to every challenge will translate into the positive and lasting change that my children and yours, deserve.
My commitments
We watched as the covid-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health challenges experienced by young people. As your trustee, I will fight to increase access to much needed mental health supports for students.
We watched in sheer grief as violence penetrated the sanctity of our schools. As your trustee, I will exercise every tool available to me to execute coordinated efforts that address the root causes of violence, with swift and adept crisis response that keep our kids physically and mentally safe.
We watched as term after term, the school board failed to evolve its policies and programs to make sure that every child entering the school system has the same opportunity to achieve their full potential. As your trustee, I will actively listen to the diverse and growing communities of Pickering and champion equitable education opportunities for all students, including students who are Black and racialized, Indigenous students, students with disabilities, students who are new to the country, and students from the LGBTQ2S+ communities.
In the wake of growing division and a world undergoing transformation, I am absolutely determined to amplify and unify diverse voices, thoughts, and ideas to achieve the true potential of DDSB, providing a safe, inclusive and thoughtful environment for our students of today and tomorrow.
Role of a Trustee
School board trustees are the members of a school board. They are locally-elected representatives of the public, and they are the community's advocate for public education. They are required to carry out their responsibilities in a manner that assists the board in fulfilling its duties under the Education Act.
A trustee's role is to maintain a focus on student achievement, well-being and equity and to participate in making decisions that benefit the board's entire jurisdiction while representing the interests of their constituents. Trustees must also communicate the views and decisions of the board back to their constituents.
For more information, try this link!
Khaleya Linton-Smellie
Campaign Manager & Social Media Coordinator
Recently graduated with honors from Pine Ridge Secondary School. An active student, Khaleya was the social media manager for the Black Students Union and part of the leadership committee. In her spare time, Khaleya likes to listen to music, roller skate and likes to try new foods. Khaleya is a champion and advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion, she was one of two students from Pine Ridge who received the community services award for the City of Pickering. She is currently preparing for her first year at Western University where she will be studying media information and technoculture.
Meet the Team
Xander Thomas
Outreach & Canvassing Coordinator
Xander is currently enrolled in Grade 10 at St Mary's Catholic Secondary School. An up and coming music enthusiast, Xander has not only learned to play the piano, guitar and the drums, but has also started to create and compose his own music. Xander was an active member of the Know Your Rights youth committee where he worked collaboratively with DurhamONE, DRPS and other youth from Durham to create a youth engagement strategy. The strategy focused on identifying what information young people need as it pertains to their rights when interacting with Durham Region Police Officers. In his spare time Xander enjoys skateboarding, watching movies and hanging out with his friends..
Lana Wehbeh
Website Design & Strategy
Attending the University of Toronto for Computer Science, Lana is an advocate for furthering youth opportunities in STEM and centers her work around empowering minorities and women within the field. A strong believer in education, she serves as a Teen Ambassador with Canada Learning Code and is part of the DurhamOne Board of Directors, where she aims to represent youth voices. She is an avid fan of jigsaw puzzles, musicals, and collecting earrings!
