Jodhbir (Jo) Kang

Candidate for School Trustee 73 - TEA1

Nomination Documents

Contact Information

Email: Click to Send
Facebook: Click to View
Phone: 250-572-6241

Personal Information

Resident of: Brocklehurst
Age: 24
Current Occupation: Services Coordinator - TNRD

Biography

Hello!
My name is Jodhbir Kang, but most people in the community know me as Jo. I am 24 years old, born and raised in beautiful Kamloops, British Columbia.
I am currently a Service Coordinator with the Thompson Nicola Regional District, having been in this role for the last 8 months. Previously I was employed by the City of Kamloops as one of the first Community Services Officer, and before that as a Library Assistant with the Thompson Nicola Regional Library.
I attended University at the Thompson Rivers University here in Kamloops and graduated with my Police and Justice Studies Diploma.
I will be running for one of the five spots as a school trustee for the Kamloops Area. I was part of the SD73 school system from pre-school all the way until my graduation in Grade 12. I attended A.E. Perry Elementary School, Brock Middle School, and Norkam Secondary School. I played many school sports including volleyball, soccer, and basketball. I still thank everything SD73 taught me growing up and I believe it made me the person I am today.
I think it is time for dramatic changes that need to done in our school district. We must understand that the youth are the future of the city and this all starts in our school systems. Having someone as young as myself will allow for a different voice/perspective to be brought to the board table.

I hope to connect and speak with all citizens of Kamloops before the civic election this October and hope to bring the youth voice we so truly need at the School Board level.

Any questions or concerns please email me at jodhbirkang@gmail.com or phone 250-572-6241.

Take care,

Jodhbir (Jo) Kang


External Page Links

KTW Posted: April 25, 2022
Kang declares candidacy for Kamloops-Thompson trustee in October civic election 		Visit

Organization Endorsements

Kamloops & District Labour Council

We are the elected representatives of roughly 13,000 unionized workers in the Kamloops area covering Merritt to Valemount and Chase to Lillooet.

Our affiliates work collaboratively to advance the economic and social welfare of workers and with other progressive organizations in the promotion of social justice and human rights as described in the United Nations’ Charter of Human Rights.

We are members of the BC Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress, the latter of which represents over three-million unionized Canadians.

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Answers to Questions from the Public

How would you address the challenges of the current funding structure for students with special needs?

Asked by: Kamloops and District Labour Council asked the School Trustee 73 - TEA1 Candidates
Jodhbir (Jo) Kang Answered

There is no question in my mind that current funding for all aspects of students with special needs is not enough. We need to at the board level apply serious pressure on the provincial government to increase funding for our special needs children. Many parents of special needs children were told not to bring their child into school the first week because of the lack of support staff. I strongly believe every child has the right to go to school no matter what needs they have have. That is why I also maintain that we need to look at increasing funding/wages for the support staff that are looking after these children. We have a very big problem with retention of support staff in our district.

How will you promote ethical purchases, including local unionized goods and services, where available?

Asked by: Kamloops and District Labour Council asked the City Councillor, Mayor, School Trustee 73 - TEA1 Candidates
Jodhbir (Jo) Kang Answered

Having worked in local government for most of my professional career, procurement policies and ethical purchases have been something I been working with for awhile. Though I have been told our School District does have a very principled procurement process, I do wish to have a deeper look at this if elected, and see if we can include using local unionized goods and services above all. This would mean keeping essential work in our local economy.

Please describe the principles of public education and how education should be funded.

Asked by: Kamloops and District Labour Council asked the School Trustee 73 - TEA1 Candidates
Jodhbir (Jo) Kang Answered

In my view, public education (Pre school - Grade 12) is something that should always be:
• Free
• Available to all (no discrimination to any person)
• An environment where all children are set to thrive
• Students are provided with all the up to date educational information
• A fun learning environment

Funding for education should still be allocated thru taxation from the provincial government, but we must look at how this money is being divided. I firmly believe at times the provincial government does play favourites depending on what city. Just in chatting with people over the last couple months, many people believe our School District has been neglected countless times.

Do you think education should be treated as an essential service?

Asked by: Kamloops and District Labour Council asked the School Trustee 73 - TEA1 Candidates
Jodhbir (Jo) Kang Answered

100%.
An "essential service" in my eyes is something that needed to keep basic society functioning. So yes, we must without a doubt treat education as an essential service.

Are you or have you ever been active in any community organizations, actions, or campaigns?
Describe your volunteer work, positions, and any tangible change to the community from your involvement. Are you still involved with this work?

Asked by: Kamloops and District Labour Council asked the City Councillor, Mayor, School Trustee 73 - TEA1 Candidates
Jodhbir (Jo) Kang Answered

I have been an active volunteer/member of many community organizations.

I volunteered as a federally security cleared personnel with the Kamloops RCMP. This included programs such as speed watch, bike patrol, citizens on patrol, and etc. I did this for more than 4 years while completing my Police and Justice Studies here at Thompson Rivers University.

I volunteer my time within our school district by coaching during basketball season. My most recent team was the Grade 8 boys at Brock Middle School.

In addition, I am an active member of the Kamloops Sikh Gurdwara Sahib and have volunteer as kitchen support every single Sunday for the last 15+ years. On Sundays, people of all backgrounds are welcomed for a free vegetarian lunch.

Have you ever been a candidate or volunteered in a previous civic, provincial, or federal election? If so, please give details.

Asked by: Kamloops and District Labour Council asked the City Councillor, Mayor, School Trustee 73 - TEA1 Candidates
Jodhbir (Jo) Kang Answered

This is my first time running as a candidate, but I previously volunteered substantially with City of Kamloops Councillor Bill Sarai during his 2018 campaign!

Do you support the Living Wage for Families Campaign? Please explain why or why not.

Asked by: Kamloops and District Labour Council asked the City Councillor, Mayor, School Trustee 73 - TEA1 Candidates
Jodhbir (Jo) Kang Answered

I am 100% in support of the Living Wage for Families Campaign. No one in this country should be working and not being able to afford basic human needs. The last year, we have seen such a spike in prices of goods and services, but we did not see many organizations increasing their wages. In my opinion we need take this issue much more seriuslly before families start losing their livelihoods.

What do you believe are the critical issues facing your community and school district?

Asked by: Kamloops and District Labour Council asked the School Trustee 73 - TEA1 Candidates
Jodhbir (Jo) Kang Answered

Critical issues facing our school district are the retention of unionized workers (teachers, support staff, CEA), lack of capital projects happening, and many schools being well over max capacity.

In terms of community issues, the number one concern I believe is homelessness and our streets. Having worked as a Community Services Officer (bylaw) in Kamloops, I can not think of anything else that is creating such problems for our city and its tax paying residents.

Describe your position on Contracting Out and Public Private Partnerships and how they effect existing jobs.

Asked by: Kamloops and District Labour Council asked the City Councillor, Mayor, School Trustee 73 - TEA1 Candidates
Jodhbir (Jo) Kang Answered

My position on contracting out and public private partnerships is very simple, I do not believe in it. More often than not, I have seen many close friends and family lose work in federal/provincial/local governments because administration chose to go the "cheaper" route and contract work that could be easily completed by members of the union involved. We are seeing a trend in many municipalities across BC were in order to save "some money" they will seek contractors to complete essential works like landscaping, road maintenance and etc. In my experiences, this move only ends in two ways; people losing their jobs entirely or getting their hours cut.

If you are a Union member, does your union (provide union/local name) offer endorsement to members running for public office? If so, have you applied for/received endorsement from your union?

Asked by: Kamloops and District Labour Council asked the City Councillor, Mayor, School Trustee 73 - TEA1 Candidates
Jodhbir (Jo) Kang Answered

In my current occupation I do not belong to any union. In the past I have been an active member of BCGEU Local 705 (youth member at large) and CUPE Local 900.