Item - 2019.CA2.1

Appointees' Biographies:

Ashna Bowry

Ashna Bowry is an academic Family Physician at St Michael's Hospital, Toronto. She trained at the University of Bristol, UK and completed a residency in Family Medicine at University of Toronto. She graduated with an MSc degree in International Health and Tropical Medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her clinical focus is providing primary care to vulnerable patients in inner-city Toronto, mainly pediatric, mental health and chronic disease management.

Stephanie Donaldson

Stephanie Donaldson is the elected Toronto District School Board Trustee for Ward 9: Davenport and Spadina-Fort York. Stephanie for has over 15 years of experience in the non-profit and public sectors as a policy expert and strategist and holds certificates in community-based research, alternative dispute resolution, public sector leadership, as well as an MA in History.

Angela Jonsson

Angela Jonsson is currently the Director, Member Engagement and Advocacy at the Ontario Medical Association. Angela has worked in increasingly senior positions within all levels of government, member-based associations and educational institutions over the last 10 years including the Toronto District School Board and in the democratic primaries for President Barack Obama. Angela has served in a variety of senior leadership roles for election campaigns and volunteers regularly.

Ida Li Preti 

Ida Li Preti is a resourceful and multifaceted professional with over 12 years of experience managing human resources and leveraging extensive experience overseeing business operations. No one gets left behind. Ida strongly believes in transparency and accountability. She is passionate about issues of social justice and closing the poverty gap. Ida is a mother of three young boys. Currently practicing Yoga and Karate.

Kate Mulligan

Kate Mulligan contributes to health equity, ecological public health, healthy public policy and community wellbeing through her work with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and with the Alliance for Healthier Communities. An engaged community member in East York, Kate enjoys daily walks to school with her three young daughters.

Peter Wong

Peter Wong did postgraduate Pediatrics at SickKids. He is UoT Associate Professor and Fellow Royal College of Physicians, American College Preventive Medicine and Academy Pediatrics. His public health contributions are Board of Health Toronto, Board Director alPHa, Board Director Rexdale Community Health Centre, Medical Consultant Niagara Region Public Health and Advisory Committee Ontario Human Milk Bank. He has been recognized by the Canadian Paediatric Society and Ontario Medical Association.

Soo Wong

Soo Wong is a former MPP and Deputy Speaker of the Ontario Legislature; she was also a former Public School Board Trustee with the Toronto District School Board. Soo is a recognized and respected health professional with leadership skills.  She has more than 30 years of senior nursing administration, public health promotion, post-secondary education, and political roles.

The Civic Appointments Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council appoint the following candidates to the Board of Health, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending on November 14, 2022, and until successors are appointed:

- Ashna Bowry

- Angela Jonsson

- Kate Mulligan

- Peter Wong

- Soo Wong

2.  City Council appoint the following school board nominees to the Board of Health, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending on November 14, 2022, and until successors are appointed:

- Stephanie Donaldson, Trustee, Toronto District School Board 

- Ida Li Preti, Trustee, Toronto Catholic District School Board

3. City Council direct that Confidential Attachments 1, 2, and 3 to the report (January 14, 2019) remain confidential in their entirety as they relate to personal matters about identifiable individuals being considered for appointment to the Board of Health.

Candidates' biographies:

Ashna Bowry

Ashna Bowry is an academic Family Physician at St Michael's Hospital, Toronto. She trained at the University of Bristol, UK and completed a residency in Family Medicine at University of Toronto. She graduated with an MSc degree in International Health and Tropical Medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her clinical focus is providing primary care to vulnerable patients in inner-city Toronto, mainly pediatric, mental health and chronic disease management.

Stephanie Donaldson

Stephanie Donaldson is the elected Toronto District School Board Trustee for Ward 9: Davenport and Spadina-Fort York. Stephanie for has over 15 years of experience in the non-profit and public sectors as a policy expert and strategist and holds certificates in community-based research, alternative dispute resolution, public sector leadership, as well as an MA in History.

Angela Jonsson

Angela Jonsson is currently the Director, Member Engagement & Advocacy at the Ontario Medical Association. Angela has worked in increasingly senior positions within all levels of government, member-based associations and educational institutions over the last 10 years including the Toronto District School Board and in the democratic primaries for President Barack Obama. Angela has served in a variety of senior leadership roles for election campaigns and volunteers regularly.

Ida Li Preti 

Ida Li Preti is a resourceful and multifaceted professional with over 12 years of experience managing human resources and leveraging extensive experience overseeing business operations. No one gets left behind. Ida strongly believes in transparency and accountability. She is passionate about issues of social justice and closing the poverty gap. Ida is a mother of three young boys. Currently practicing Yoga and Karate.

Kate Mulligan

Kate Mulligan contributes to health equity, ecological public health, healthy public policy and community wellbeing through her work with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and with the Alliance for Healthier Communities. An engaged community member in East York, Kate enjoys daily walks to school with her three young daughters.

Peter Wong

Peter Wong did postgraduate Pediatrics at SickKids. He is UoT Associate Professor and Fellow Royal College of Physicians, American College Preventive Medicine and Academy Pediatrics. His public health contributions are Board of Health Toronto, Board Director alPHa, Board Director Rexdale Community Health Centre, Medical Consultant Niagara Region Public Health and Advisory Committee Ontario Human Milk Bank. He has been recognized by the Canadian Paediatric Society and Ontario Medical Association.

Soo Wong

Soo Wong is a former MPP and Deputy Speaker of the Ontario Legislature; she was also a former Public School Board Trustee with the Toronto District School Board. Soo is a recognized & respected health professional with leadership skills.  She has more than 30 years of senior nursing administration, public health promotion, post-secondary education, and political roles.

The Civic Appointments Committee will conduct interviews and recommend six candidates and one education representative to City Council for appointment to the Board of Health.