Hello and a warm welcome to my fellow Zone 4 (Bay & Kitchissippi wards) residents! 

My name is Emily Quaile and I am running to be your next Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Trustee. I am an experienced community organizer, a tireless human rights advocate, a proud queer mom of two young OCDSB students, and an overall policy nerd! I grew up in Hintonburg and am proud to call Westboro my home for most of the last ten years.  

When I was an OCDSB student during the Rae and Harris years (1990-2003), I went to 5 different schools due to school closures, program reductions, and the deep cuts to public schools that defined that era. The OCDSB was put under supervision back then too, only to make deep cuts to the programs my peers and I relied upon. I refuse to stand by and let this happen again -  to my children, and to yours.

I am proud of my diverse education and work experience, and believe that the skills I have honed will serve you well if I am elected as a trustee. 
I have a BFA in Theatre (Concordia), a BA in Political Science (Carleton), and a MA in Political Economy (Carleton). From my work in theatre in Montreal and Toronto, I have extensive experience leading creative teams on a tight budget with a hard deadline. When I moved back to Ottawa in 2013, I pursued my second degree in Political Science. I won a Senate Medal for my academic achievement, and focused my studies on central banking, economics, labour history, and the effects of austerity in Canada.

Shortly after my second child was born, I decided to pursue my MA in Political Economy focusing on the economic conditions of fascism and far-right ideology. When I saw the Convoy roll in, I knew I needed to contribute to our understanding of how fascist movements grow and what we can all do to prevent hate from taking hold in our society. Graduating with my MA earlier this year, while parenting two young children, is one of my proudest accomplishments. Throughout most of my teen and adult life, I have worked in restaurants as a bartender, server, and manager. I look back on my working life so far and I see that I have a deep passion for being of service to others by working to make our days a little better. I am glad to have been of service to my community as a theatre maker, restaurant worker, researcher, writer, and social movement organizer. 

I have delivered multiple guest lectures at university courses and have been a panelist at local events covering important issues. I have delivered conference presentations of my own research and have been honoured to be a keynote speaker at academic conferences. I have trained with labour organizers, been elected to my local union executive, worked closely with movement builders, and learned how to lead with empathy and bravery. I have organized multiple counter-protests of transphobic hate rallies in Ottawa with Community Solidarity Ottawa and shared my experiences with other organizers and community leaders. In May 2026, I was published in a University of Manitoba edited volume on the rise of the far-right in Canada and am currently working on a future publication.  

Right now, the position of trustee is so uncertain, but the work of a trustee has only grown. If elected, I will work tirelessly and enthusiastically to amplify local voices and ensure that the board and province understand our needs. I will communicate clearly with the community about what I hear from the board and province, and champion the solutions that our local school communities demand.

I believe that the needs of local school communities should inform budgets, not the other way around. 

Let's restore local democracy at our public schools! Election day is October 26th and there are many ways to get involved with my campaign:

Donating (25$ buys one lawn sign), canvassing in your area, sharing my campaign with your network, behind-the-scenes work, and putting up election signs across the zone! 

Most importantly, please get in touch with me at [email protected] to share your ideas, experiences, and the issues that matter to you. 

With warmth and gratitude,

Emily.