Photo Courtesy Elizabeth Terrell-Tracey
A York Region school board trustee who faced calls to resign in 2018 after racist and anti-immigrant comments appeared on her Facebook account during the election campaign has resurfaced as a candidate for English-language school board trustee in the Municipality of Trent Hills.
Elizabeth Terrell, who was elected under the legal name Elizabeth Terrell-Tracey at the time, represented East Gwillimbury and Whitchurch-Stouffville. She said the posts were not hers and that her account had been hacked, while also apologizing for the hurt caused. Despite protests from parents and community members, she could not be removed because she had been elected to the position.
Terrell ran again in Whitchurch-Stouffville in 2022 but was unsuccessful.
The controversy prompted school board officials and local politicians to reaffirm their commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Lisa Thompson, who was education minister at the time, said the government was monitoring the situation while trustees considered responses to community concerns.
Officials also raised the possibility of changing trustee election rules and creating stronger mechanisms to remove elected representatives for misconduct.
(Written By: Richard Evans)
