Ceta Ramkhalawansingh
| Ceta Ramkhalawansingh | |
|---|---|
| Toronto City Councillor for Ward 20 (Trinity—Spadina) | |
|
In office July 7, 2014 – November 30, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Adam Vaughan |
| Succeeded by | Joe Cressy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Residence | Toronto, Ontario |
| Occupation | civil servant |
Ceta Ramkhalawansingh is a Canadian civil servant and former politician, who was appointed on July 7, 2014 to represent Ward 20 (Trinity—Spadina) on Toronto City Council, following the resignation of Adam Vaughan.[1]
Background
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Ramkhalawansingh emigrated to Canada in 1967, and studied political science and economics at the University of Toronto.[2] While a student at the University of Toronto, she was actively involved in establishing the women's studies program in 1971.[3] She worked for the Toronto District School Board before joining the municipal staff at Toronto City Hall.[2] Her final position with the city was as director of diversity management and civic engagement within the city staff, a position from which she retired in 2010.[4]
As an activist in the downtown Toronto Grange neighbourhood, Ramkhalawansingh was involved with protecting rental housing, saving heritage buildings from demolition, campaigning for responsible and appropriate development, including restrictions upon institutional expansion.[5]
Her work on women's issues was recognized by Toronto City Council in 2012 with the Constance E. Hamilton Award, whose recipients are selected by the women members of council.[6]
Council term
Ramkhalawansingh was appointed after a council vote that split along ideological lines, with mayor Rob Ford and most conservative councillors favouring former Peel Region police chief Robert Lunney.[4] Ramkhalawansingh was elected by council on the second ballot with 22 votes to Lunney's 18. Her term ended on November 30, 2014; she did not stand as a candidate in the 2014 municipal election.
In August 2014, Ramkhalawansingh put forward a motion that Toronto City Council adopt a resolution to request that the federal government change the wording of "O Canada", specifically the line "all thy sons command", to be more gender-inclusive.[7]
In December 2015, she co-founded the Campaign for Gender Equality in the Senate, which urged the Prime Minister to fill all 22 vacant positions with women, which would have the effect of achieving equality.[8]
References
- ↑ "Toronto council appoints activist Ceta Ramkhalawansingh as new councillor for Trinity-Spadina". National Post, July 7, 2014.
- 1 2 "Ceta Ramkhalawansingh", Passages Canada.
- ↑ "Revolutionary Road". U of T Magazine, Summer 2012.
- 1 2 "Former city official picked for council seat". Toronto Star, July 7, 2014.
- ↑ "Artful dodgers". Now, April 1, 2004.
- ↑ "Ramkhalawansingh wins Constance Hamilton Award". Share, December 12, 2012.
- ↑ "O Canada lyric debate coming to council". Toronto Sun, August 21, 2014.
- ↑ http://m.thestar.com/#/article/opinion/editorials/2016/01/04/a-reformed-senate-will-include-more-women-editorial.html "A reformed Senate will include more women: Editorial"]. Toronto Star, January 4, 2016.