Appointee Biographies

GARY PIETERS

Gary Pieters has been an educator for over 25 years and is currently a principal with Toronto District School Board (TDSB). He is a social justice champion whether as president of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR) from 2012-2015; advising the provincial government on Equity in Education as a member of the Ontario Ministry of Education, Minister's Advisory Council on Special Education (MACSE); or as a member of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) Modernization in Measurement Advisory Panel. He is also Vice-Chair and a Member of the Toronto Islands Residential Community Trust Corporation. His extensive knowledge base and experience are leveraged through community building, youth engagement, through an equity, inclusion, diversity, anti-racist, anti-oppression and dismantling anti-Black racism lens.

SANDI BELL

Sandi Bell serves as a member (part-time) for Patient and Family Advisory Council, and is President of EMPOWWORD Inc. Sandi’s community involvement includes serving as a Chair for Hospital Standards Committee.

PATRICIA DEGUIRE

Patricia DeGuire, called to the bar in 1993, is an advocate for access to justice, equality, and equity. She is known for her passion for the Rule of Law, public service, education, and mentorship. She is a Deputy Judge of the SCJ, Small Claims Court Div. She is an ADR practitioner. She was an adjudicator for the IRB, Appeal Division; the HRTO and the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal. She was an LAO and JusticeNet Board Member. She was an OBA and CBA Council Member and served in many women’s issues and diversity.