Biography
Angela was first elected as a TCDSB Ward 11 Trustee in 2000 and was re-elected to her 5th term in 2014. In her time as a Trustee she has served as Chair of the Board for two terms: 2008 -2010 and 2015-2017. She serves the Catholic community in city wards 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34.
Angela was educated in the Catholic school system in Toronto. She attended Corpus Christi Catholic Elementary School before graduating from Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School and St. Joseph’s School of Nursing.
Angela, and her husband Alistair, are the proud parents of seven boys, and now have six grandchildren-- three boys and three girls. Angela was extensively involved in her children’s education. She served on the Parent Teacher Association for St. John Fisher Catholic School, St. Kateri Catholic School and Brebeuf College School. She was founding president of the Brebeuf PTA and founded Kateri Kids Child Care Centre. She served as Chair of the TRC –The Toronto Regional Council of the Federation of Catholic Teachers and Parents of Ontario which was the forerunner of the Toronto Association of Parents in Catholic Education.
Her training ground for her local political career was involvement in the founding of the Ontario Nurses Association through the efforts of RNAO in the early 1970s. She became the local president of the Toronto East General Hospital Nurses Union (LOCAL 115) a position she held for 10 years. During this time, she served on the local negotiating committee, grievance and occupational health and safety committees.
Angela is a registered Nurse (RN) who is a certified diabetes educator (CDE). She is currently employed at the former Toronto East General Hospital, now Michael Garron Hospital, where she has worked for over 40 years.
Angela played a lead role through 2000 -2002 in developing the innovative partnership among two community health care centers and the community hospital to provide diabetes education programs for people with type 2 diabetes. ( DECNET ) Diabetes Community Network for East Toronto received funding from the Ministry of health and long term care and is now the model throughout the province of Ontario.
During her terms as trustee she has served in the capacity of:
Chair of the Board
Vice-Chair of the Board
Vice-Chair & Member of the SEAC Committee (Special Education Advisory Committee)
Co-Chair and Founder Asian Heritage Committee 2005-2010
Member of the TCDSB Race Relations and Multiculturalism Committee
Trustee Appointed to CPIC ( Catholic Parent Involvement Committee)
Member Angel Foundation for Learning Committee
Director OCSTA (Ontario Catholic Trustees’ Association)
Current Medical Memberships include:
Ontario Nurses Association (ONA)
Registered Nurses Association (RNAO)
College of Nurses
Diabetes Canada (diabetes educator section)
Awards:
2018 Banting and Best Diabetes Educator of the Year
2015 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
2006 Woman of Distinction in the Beaches
2005 Down Syndrome Association
2004 Canadian Diabetes Association for development of culturally sensitive teaching tool (Home exercise program for Tamil speaking community)
1991 Umbrella Day Care Award
1987 Silent Voice Canada ( volunteer recognition)
“Angela Kennedy Trustee Ward 11 is a recipient of this award because she has demonstrated a commitment to witnessing her faith by putting her Catholic values into action and encouraging others to follow her example. Her recent work for the St. Brigid Out of the Cold Program is an example of her many years of leadership in the Catholic Community. Trustee Kennedy’s service as a parent has encouraged parental engagement and reinforces the important correlation between parental involvement and student success. The enthusiasm and passion she has displayed in health care and education is a legacy that continues to improve the health care and well-being of the community at large. At the same time as trustee she has been actively dedicated to equity and inclusion, the elimination of racial discrimination and the celebration of our cultural diversity through a variety of initiatives including involvement in Asian Heritage Month celebrations.” (Quote from: 2015 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal nomination)
Zoheir Hasanbhair, M.C.
Marcia Mark
Nancy M. Siew, Founding President Asian Heritage Month (Toronto and Areas)
TCDSB Trustee Angela Kennedy
Captain Lu Li, Land Force Central
Kirk Mark, TCDSB Coordinator of Race and Ethnic Relations
Captain Kidnie, LFC JTFCHQ
TCDSB Trustee Frank D'Amico