Caroline Phaneuf elected Parents Committee Chair

The English Montreal School Board’s Parents Committee (EMSBPC) has elected Caroline Phaneuf, a communications and marketing consultant and former journalist, as chair.

“I’m honored to have been elected chair in such a crucial and decisive year,” states Ms. Phaneuf. “We will have many major discussions and important decisions to take over the next year.”

Ms. Phaneuf adds that she’s very excited to have such a strong   Executive Committee to move these difficult dossiers forward this year: Joseph Bondi, vice-chair; Johnny Leoci, treasurer; Serena Capplette; Maria Corsi; Norm Gharibian; Katherine Korakakis; Pietro Mercuri; Andrew Ross; and Jason Trudeau. “Our goal will be to ensure that parents are appropriately and adequately represented in decision-making going forward in order to ensure our children get the very best education possible. As parents we are clear: our goal is to help offer the best public education in Quebec.”

Phaneuf has two girls at Edinburgh Elementary in Montreal West and has been her Governing Board’s representative on the EMSB Parents Committee for the past two years. Last year, she held the position of   vice-chair and co-organized the Parents Committee’s Parents Conference. She was also heavily involved with Edinburgh’s successful push to get modular classrooms added to the school, which was one of the most overcrowded schools in the EMSB. Ms. Phaneuf now runs her own international communications and marketing firm. She spent 10 years of her career as a journalist, notably at CJAD800, Mix96 (now Virgin Radio), 940News, Q92 (now The Beat 92.5), and at CTV Montreal.

The EMSB Parents Committee is a government-mandated body that represents EMSB parents from elementary and high schools. There are 51 parents on the committee, which meets once a month during the school year. Its mandate is to inform the EMSB of parents’ needs, advise the EMSB, represent parents on EMSB committees and the Council of Commissioners, promote parent participation and inform parents of relevant issues. All EMSB parents are welcome to attend a Parents Committee meeting and ask questions at one of two question periods. The meeting schedule is available on the EMSB website at: https://www.emsb.qc.ca/emsb/community/parents/emsb-pc