Winnipeg Election 2022

Jamie Dumont - Winnipeg - 1

What got you into politics?

After having spent years volunteering on a variety of community boards, in 2018, I made the decision to run for Ward 1 in the Winnipeg School Division.  It’s important that our school boards reflect the diversity of our student population, and that Indigenous people have a voice at the decision-making tables of our public education system.  My own kids love going to school in the Winnipeg School Division, and I want all kids to have a great educational experience that sets them up for success.

What experience will you bring to compliment your role as (Mayor / Councillor / School Trustee)?

I’ve lived in River Heights for almost 20 years after growing up in the Métis community of St. Laurent.  I am bilingual and a proud parent of two kids in French Immersion at J.B. Mitchell School and Kelvin High School.  My husband is a teacher at J.B. Mitchell School.

I’ve volunteered with local community centres – Sir John Franklin/Corydon Community Centre.  I also serve on the boards of the Women’s Health Clinic and the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (currently serving as Chair).

I’ve worked in senior roles with the Government of Manitoba and a Crown Corporation for 15 years in the areas of economic development, Indigenous relations, Indigenous consultation, Diversity & Inclusion, and Accessibility.  I am now an economic development consultant for Northern and Indigenous communities, as well as workshop facilitation, community engagement, and strategic planning.

On the board of the Winnipeg School Division I’ve served as as Vice-Chair, Chair of the Governance, Building & Transportation, Pension, and Indigenous Education Ad Hoc Committees.  I was also on the Policy & Program and the Finance & Personnel Committees,  and Trustee representative for the French Immersion and South District Advisory Councils, the Education Equity and Inclusive Education Advisory Committees, and other committees.

What are some issues that you would like to stand for in your role as (Mayor / Councillor / School Trustee), and why are these issues important to you?

With our students back in school, we need to address learning loss and the mental and social impacts of the pandemic on both students and staff.  Our recovery strategy needs to reflect the diverse learning needs of our schools.  The pandemic also saw investment in new technologies and ways of learning and we need to leverage these investments to strengthen student outcomes.

I am committed to being available and accountable to families, sharing information about what is being discussed and the decisions and issues that are being brought to the board.  I attend many parent council meetings, district advisory councils, and other school events so that I can bring important feedback back to the board.  Last term, I brought forward a motion based on community feedback to strengthen our efforts in French immersion programming and improve recruitment of French teachers.

I want our schools to reflect the diversity of our communities.  We need to make sure that our policies and practices support greater diversity of school staff, and review our policies to increase student equity and ensure a learning environment that fosters success for all students.  All students, families, and staff should feel safe, welcome, and proud of our schools.

Do you have any other comments regarding your candidacy?

It has been an honour serving our school community over the past four years during my first term as Trustee for Ward 1 of the Winnipeg School Division.  The public response to Bill 64 was an incredible demonstration of how our community values local representation when it comes to setting the direction of our schools.  It’s important that our education system always reflects the priorities of our families, our schools, and our communities.  I will continue to advocate for strong and stable provincial funding for public schools that avoids cuts to the programs and services that our communities need and value.