Big Ideas, Bold Conversations – Public Education on the Ballot | September 17, 2026

Carole Gordon is the President of the British Columbia Teachers' Federation (BCTF).

Starting her teaching career 35 years ago in Central Okanagan schools, Carole now is on leave from the Central Okanagan school district where she worked as an elementary classroom and fine arts prep teacher.

Carole has been on the BCTF’s provincial Executive Committee since 2014 after serving on the Teachers’ Pension Plan Advisory Committee for five years. She has held multiple roles in the Central Okanagan Teachers’ Association including Second Vice-President, Local Election Contact, Health and Safety Chair, Bargaining Chair, and Staff Rep in various schools.

Having twice been a Kelowna candidate for MLA, Carole is also a former President of the North Okanagan Labour Council, Director of the Central Okanagan United Way, Success by 6, and Kelowna Childcare Society. She spends her time between work in Vancouver and family in Kelowna.

Dr. Jill Andrew, PhD is an award-winning community leader, educator, equity advisor, former journalist and politician. A passionate advocate for body justice, she is the co-founder of Body Confidence Canada and has spent her career advancing human rights and challenging systemic barriers.

Dr. Andrew made history as the first queer Black person elected to a provincial legislature in Canada serving from 2018 to 2025 as a Shadow Minister in Ontario's Royal Official Opposition Ontario NDP caucus and is widely recognized for her leadership in social justice, gender equity, arts, and inclusion.

Dr. Andrew has received numerous accolades, including the Michele Landsberg Media Activism Award, multiple Canadian Ethnic Media Awards, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) Women’s Leadership and Social Activism, University of Toronto Scarborough 150 Neighbours Award, INSPIRE Awards' LGBTQ Person of the Year, Canada’s 100 Black Women to Watch (CIBWE), the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention’s Lifelong Achievement Award, the former Senator Nancy Ruth Award for Gender Equality and Leadership, and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Viola Desmond Alumna Award Honouree.

Jill was also recognized for her commitment to social justice, community advocacy, equity, and leadership by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), and Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) during 2023 Black History Month – the first time a living activist had received the special honour. She was recognized as one of Museum Toronto’s 52 Women Who Changed Toronto.

Last year, Dr. Andrew received the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, Racial Justice Award (Government category) during their 50th anniversary ceremony held in Toronto. Jill lives in Toronto with her partner Aisha, mom Josephine and their cats Josephine Baker and Dorothy Dandridge

Reid Clark is an elementary school teacher, union leader, and advocate for public education based in Chilliwack, British Columbia. He currently serves as President of the Chilliwack Teachers’ Association, representing educators across the district, and is a BCTF nominated, minister appointed member of the BC Teachers’ Council. Prior to becoming CTA President, he served five years as the local union's Vice-President.

A passionate union activist, Reid has been involved in collective bargaining, grievance advocacy, health and wellness initiatives, professional development, and efforts to strengthen equity, inclusion, and reconciliation within public education. His leadership has been shaped by years of navigating challenges facing educators, including teacher shortages, workplace issues, supporting members against homophobic and transphobic discrimination in the workplace by elected school trustees, and the ongoing defense of a strong, accessible public education system.

As a classroom teacher, Reid believes in student-centred, relationship-based learning and is committed to creating inclusive environments where all students can thrive. His work reflects a deep belief that supporting educators ultimately benefits students, families, and communities.

Reid’s commitment to social justice and collective action is rooted in strong familial ties to the labour movement and political activism. Growing up with an appreciation for solidarity, advocacy, and civic engagement inspired his lifelong dedication to public service and organized labour. He continues to champion the values of fairness, dignity, and equity, seeking to build stronger schools, stronger unions, and stronger communities for future generations.

Robin Tosczak is the first Vice-President of the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), representing BC’s 52,000 public school teachers. She was one of the Federation’s lead negotiators in the two most recent rounds of collective bargaining and has been a member of the BCTF Executive Committee since 2016.

Robin is on leave from the Greater Victoria School District, where she is a primary English language learners’ and early literacy teacher. Prior to assuming her current role with the BCTF, she held multiple elected roles in the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association (GVTA), including Health and Safety Officer, Grievance Officer, and First Vice-President. She also represented the GVTA and the BCTF at the Victoria Labour Council.

Before becoming a teacher, Robin worked in arts administration and sexual assault response and prevention. She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Victoria and a Master of Education in Special Education from Vancouver Island University.

Dr. Hartej Gill's work centers on social justice, leadership, and educational transformation. Through her background as a teacher and school leader, she brings an academic and practitioner perspective on equity, identity, power, systemic oppression, and colonialism in education.

Dr. Gill contributes a critical lens rooted in anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and decolonizing frameworks, with a focus on strengthening relationships between schools, universities, and communities.