About Us – ETFO Niagara Teacher Local

ETFO Niagara is a Local of The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the largest teachers’ organization in Canada outside of Quebec. ETFO represents 83,000 people, both teachers and education workers in the public elementary schools of Ontario. At the Niagara Local we are dedicated to promoting high standards of professional competence and ethics. ETFO Niagara serves its members by protecting their rights under the Collective Agreement and supporting them through various issues.

Objects of the Local

The objects of the Local shall be:

to represent members of the Local;
to regulate relations between the members of the Local and the District School Board of Niagara, including, but not limited to, securing and maintaining through collective bargaining, the best possible terms and conditions of employment;
to advance the cause of education and the status of teachers in the Local;
to promote a high standard of professional ethics and a high standard of professional competence;
to foster a climate of social justice and provide a leadership role in such areas as anti-poverty, anti-racism, non-violence, and equity;
to promote and protect the interests of all members of the Local and the students in their care; and
to co-operate with, and support other organizations having the same or like objects.

These objects guide the work of ETFO Niagara and can be found in our Local Constitution.

The ETFO Human Rights Statement

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario is committed to:

providing an environment for members that is free from harassment and discrimination at all provincial or local Federation sponsored activities;
fostering the goodwill and trust necessary to protect the rights of all individuals within the organization;
neither tolerating nor condoning behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of individuals or the integrity of relationships; and
promoting mutual respect, understanding and cooperation as the basis of interaction among all members.

Harassment and discrimination on the basis of a prohibited ground are violations of the Ontario Human Rights Code and are illegal. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario will not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code, at provincial or local Federation-sponsored activities.

The 2024-26 ETFO Niagara Executive

Released Officers

President: Brian Barker

Vice-President (Woman): Christine McGovern

Vice-President (Open): Jennifer Sims-Murray

Secretary: Troy Garrah (Forestview)
Treasurer: Jim Brigham (Kate S. Durdan)

Members at Large:

Lindsay Magder-Ashcroft (Richmond)

Eva Zhao (John Brant)

Jennifer Irwin (Gainsborough)

Equity & Social Justice Committee Chair: Taeya Fare (Forestview)

Health & Safety Committee

Chair: Laurie Adam (Orchard Park)

New Members Committee

Chair: Christiane Rutledge (Edith Cavell)

Political Action Committee

Chair: Lindsay Brennan (Martha Cullimore)

Professional Learning Committee

Chair: Cassy Cassidy (CSS)

Public Relations Committee

Chair: Pam Belding (Princess Elizabeth)

Social Committee

Chair: Chelsea DiFranco (Harriet Tubman)

Status of Women Committee

Chair: Sharon Ethier (CSS)