Gundi Barbour, a teacher and former president of the Upper Grand Teacher Local, has been re-elected vice-president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO). Barbour served on the ETFO provincial Executive from 2017 to 2019, and 2021 to present.

“There is no career more rewarding, or more demanding, than education, and right now, our public education system is stretched to its limits. Educators are facing complex student needs, rising violence, shrinking supports, and growing expectations, all while trying to do more with less,” says Barbour. “Together, we can fight for safer classrooms, stronger collective agreements, and the respect educators deserve.”

Barbour started her teaching career in 1989 with the former Wellington County Board of Education, which later became the Upper Grand District School Board. She began her union experience as a school steward and served as a local Executive member and vice-president before being elected president of the Upper Grand Teacher Local in 2014. Barbour also served as Chair of the Status of Women, and Political Action Committees, and as a member of the Collective Bargaining Committee.

At the provincial level, Barbour has been Chair of ETFO’s Special Education and Awards Committees, acted as a Women in Action facilitator, and served as a member of a work group on fostering community engagement. From 2015 to 2017, she was also a mentor in ETFO’s first MentorCoaching Institute for Women.

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.