Sylvia van Campen, a teacher and president of the Upper Canada Occasional Teacher Local, has been re-elected to the provincial Executive of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO). She was first elected to the ETFO provincial Executive in 2019.

“We are in the midst of complex and complicated times. Disruption has become common in the world around us, and uncertainty runs strong,” says van Campen. “The pandemic, current negotiations, and a government with an agenda of privatizing education and funding cuts, require action. ETFO must lead in defending the safety and well-being of its members, and continue its work to protect our world-class public education system. This is our highest priority.”   

She began her teaching career in 1995 after graduating from University of Toronto with a bachelor of education. Van Campen was a special education teacher at the Centre for Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation and at Neurolink Educational Services before teaching in Kawartha Pine Ridge. She then became an occasional teacher with the Upper Canada District School Board.

Van Campen was elected treasurer of the ETFO Upper Canada Occasional Teacher Local in 2001, vice president in 2007, and president in 2018. She has served as chief negotiator and grievance officer for the local, and is currently the ETFO representative on the Joint Health and Safety Committee at her school board. 

At the provincial level, van Campen has been a member of the Budget Committee, Provincial Task Force on Equity, and Special Education Standing Committee. 

ETFO represents approximately 83,000 members, including public elementary teachers, occasional teachers, designated early childhood educators, education support personnel, and professional support personnel. Visit BuildingBetterSchools.ca.