Damien Halstead is running to replace Patrice Barnes as Durham School Board Trustee in the public school system.

Halstead, who ran for a council position in the Scarborough area last election, said that he thinks he is ready to work in Ajax.  The candidate told The Caribbean Camera, “Having been the vice president of Durham ACES a youth organization that helps BIPOC youth enter the STEAM program, which covers Math English French Science. We try to get them engaged with the community and with the police for instance. We got them involved in summer jobs and with that summer job program. It teaches them a lot about life and gives them an opportunity to get their credits for school.”

The race has a full field of nine people running including another Caribbean candidate. Avril Roe.

Halstead, who is a Security Supervisor in Property Management for condos said that he has been knocking doors from August and it has been very positive at the door. “People are saying that I am the first person that they have seen coming around to talk to them. I’m shearing my vision and they are responding positively”.

Halstead continued, “I believe that there should be a dedicated psychiatrist within the school board system where kids will be able to access that type of support easily, instead of having to wait months to get access that sort of support. It is a crucial time for them right now, and we need our kids to be able to focus in school and become archivers and better people”. 

The bottom line is that “I have the best interests of the kids at heart. I’m not trying to get one up or trying to get anything over, but it’s just I have the kids interest at heart”.

LJI Reporter