Re-Elect
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Re-elect Estelle Cohen YRDSB Trustee

Vote Online - October 9-18, 2026
In-Person - October 26, 2026

YOUR VOICE MATTERS!

My Achievements

Four Years of Advocacy and Leadership at York Region District School Board

As a school trustee with the York Region District School Board, I took a strong and consistent stand for equity and inclusion, working to ensure that all students, families, and staff were treated with fairness, dignity, and respect when concerns were brought to my attention. I raised them directly with senior staff and the Board and advocated for meaningful action.

Some examples include:

    1. Advocating for mandatory staff education on antisemitism:
    2. I supported mandatory antisemitism training for YRDSB staff. The training is now compulsory and includes the international Holocaust remembrance alliance, working definition of antisemitism I believe education and awareness are essential tools and preventing antisemitism and creating safer schools.
    1. Keeping specialty programs fair for ALL gifted students
    2. When YRDSB considered using a random lottery to pick students for specialty programs like music, dance, drama and art, I spoke up firmly against it at our board meeting.
    3. Public schools should reward all students who are gifted, by offering programs that allow them to reach their full potential . I argued that, in the same way that we use tests and grades for advanced academic programs, we must also respect our gifted creative students. A student who spends years practicing an instrument or preparing a monologue should have their talent evaluated fairly, not left to a lucky draw.
    4. Because of this advocacy, our school board chose not to use a lottery system. We kept our skills-based entry and auditions. I am proud to say our specialty programs remain strong, fair, and focused on student talent. I will keep working hard to protect these high standards for all families in our community.
    1. Strengthening the vetting of guest speakers
    2. After concerns were brought to my attention about guest speakers, with histories of hate, being hired by the Board, I brought forward a motion, calling for stronger, vetting procedures.  The resulting process required all school principles to check references and added superintendent level oversight. This was an important safeguard against bringing individuals with a history of hate into our schools.
    1. Ensuring Jewish symbols and history were appropriately represented
    2. When I became aware that the Star of David had been removed from the York Region District School Board calendar and replaced with a menorah, I immediately raised the issue with the board. The Star of David was subsequently restored. I believe Jewish identity in heritage should be represented accurately and respectfully
    1. Advocating for appropriate responses to antisemitism in schools
    2. When I became aware of numerous reported incidents of antisemitism at a school under my responsibility, I brought the concern directly to senior Board staff, including the coordinating superintendent, responsible for equity, inclusive schools, and community services. Staff subsequently offered to work with the school on strategies to address the issue and support a safer and more inclusive environment. 
    1. Supporting accountability for antisemitism and racism
    2. I joined the Student Discipline Committee in order to support appropriate consequences, accountability and education when students engage in antisemitism or other forms of racism, hate and bullying. I believe that combatting hate, in any form, requires both meaningful consequences and education.
    1. Advocating to eliminate the naming of schools after individuals 
    2.  I brought forward a motion to eliminate the practice of naming schools after individual people. This arose from concerns within the community about whether a school naming process had been conducted fairly, when the name of a highly acclaimed Jewish historical figure was not chosen. Similar concerns also surfaced in another community.  I argued that naming schools after individuals can create unnecessary division within our diverse communities, and that a more consistent neutral approach of naming schools would better serve our families. My motion was successful. Schools  at YRDSB will no longer be named after individuals.
    1. Speaking up against Concerning language used in YRDSB documents and its impact on Jewish families
    2. I also challenged specific language in the Board’s, Multi-Year Strategic Plan when I believed certain DEI terminology could be interpreted negatively by members of the community, including our Jewish constituents. I explained how language can be interpreted differently in meaning, and that Board communications should be clear, inclusive, and mindful of how they may be understood by the communities we serve. Following my intervention, the language was modified.
    1. Advocating for greater Jewish representation in leadership
    2. I advocated for greater representation of Jewish staff in positions of authority within the board. I believe that diverse leadership strengthens our schools and helps ensure that the experiences and concerns of all communities are understood and appropriately represented.

My Commitment:

My approach to combatting antisemitism has been straightforward. When I see a problem, I raise it. when families bring forward concerns, I listen, and when board policies or decisions can be improved, I advocate for change.


I am proud to have used my position as a trustee to stand up for Jewish students, families, and staff, and to advocate for a school system where antisemitism and all forms of hate are taken seriously, addressed appropriately and never normalized.


I have worked to protect Jewish students and families, not only by speaking out against antisemitism, but by supporting education, accountability, strong safeguards, accurate representative Jewish identity, and greater inclusion within the board. My record demonstrates that I have been prepared to stand up, ask difficult questions and advocate for meaningful change when I believe Jewish students and families are not being adequately protected or represented.

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