ETFO Awards Honourary Life Memberships 2007-08

August 14, 2008

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) honoured five people last night at its Annual Meeting.  Bill Getty and Eileen Markwick from Toronto, Wendy Matthews from Wellington, Gayle Manley from Sault Ste. Marie, and Peter Andrusco from Dryden became the latest ETFO honourary life members.

Honourary Life Memberships, the federation’s highest form of recognition, are given to members who have retired from the education profession and who have given outstanding service to the federation at the provincial level.

Wendy Matthews has had an extensive career in unionism, both with ETFO and with the Federation of Women Teachers’ Associations of Ontario (FWTAO), one of ETFO’s predecessor organizations.  Her many accomplishments include achieving salary increases for women teachers through pay equity legislation, creating the first union school, and implementing a government funded and recognized anti-racist program.  “Wendy’s commitment has positively affected education and educators across the province,” said ETFO President David Clegg.

Throughout her 36-year career in education, federation involvement has been a major part of Gayle Manley’s professional life.  She has served as secretary and professional development committee member with FWTAO in Peterborough, and as president of both the FWTAO Local in Sault Ste. Marie and the ETFO Algoma Local. One of the longest standing executive members in ETFO’s history, Manley “has been committed to sharing her expertise to further the cause of teachers and public education across the province,” said Clegg.

Bill Getty retires after a 26-career serving as a teacher advocate with the Toronto Teachers’ Federation, the Ontario Public School Teachers’ Federation, and ETFO. During that period, he developed an extensive level of expertise in negotiations, collective bargaining and counselling. “Bill has represented teachers at every level of their professional lives and has seen the difference it has made,” said Clegg.

Peter Andrusco spent 36 years as a teacher and union leader in Dryden, serving as local president with the Ontario Public School Teachers’ Federation, and as local vice-president and president with ETFO.  In January 2001, he led his members in a successful strike after being local president for only four months. “Peter’s commitment was always first and foremost to his members,” said Clegg.

Eileen Markwick retires after a 38-year career with ETFO and FWTAO.  She served in virtually all positions with FWTAO in the city of York, including president, and has been an Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT) regional councillor, executive officer, member of the ETT negotiation team, and ETT representative on many board committees. ETFO’s Clegg called Marwich a “true advocate for public education, teachers, and social justice.”

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario represents 73,000 elementary public school teachers and education workers across Ontario and is the largest teacher federation in Canada.