Ellen Chambers, Lakehead Teacher Local
Ellen Chambers’ teaching career began as a special education teacher in Atikokan, Ontario, living in a former schoolhouse with no running water or electricity – a humble beginning to a memorable career. After teaching in Alberta beckoned for a year, she returned to Thunder Bay – continuing in Special Education and then moved on to a junior classroom. Laughing with her students and making sure fun was part of each day became her antidote to Rae Days, the Social Contract, Snobelen and Harris. Those years formed a strong unionist in her – becoming one of the original school stewards after ETFO was formed.
It was Ellen’s activism for making schools safe for LGBTQ students that led her forward. It was her goal to make sure children would never endure homophobic harassment in schools as her son had. She and her son Gabriel, their family and dedicated activists challenged the school system and eventually Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs) were in all high schools, every employee received training, and policies were written and changed to protect children and staff. Today much of this model is reflected in province-wide legislation that aims to ensure the safety of all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Ellen served the Lakehead Teacher Local as their president for seven years. She is most proud of developing positive relationships with members and the board, for nurturing leadership in her local and helping her local become a leader in social justice and equity in Thunder Bay through many initiatives.
Ellen continues her many years’ involvement with community committees advocating for change and bringing awareness of racism, discrimination and LGBTQ concerns to the public and government. She was honored with the Humanitarian Award for an ETFO Member in 2006, and both the Thunder Bay Mayor’s Community Hero Award and the ETFO President’s Award in 2011.
With all this, she still felt a pull to do more. Ellen spent two of her most exhilarating and proudest union years as a member of the provincial Executive. Ellen credits the confidence she gained through her union involvement as helping her in her endeavors. She thanks the many people who tapped her on the shoulder. Ellen knows that we all have talents that others may see in us and she thanks ETFO for helping her find hers. She believes and knows we can each contribute to make this a better world for the children that brought us all to this profession.
