Ed Kowalchuk

Ed Kowalchuk (August 21, 1926 – June 4, 2003) was an administrator and elected official in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was president of the Manitoba Teachers Society, and chaired the Winnipeg School Board on two separate occasions.

Early life and political career

Kowalchuk grew up in Sandy Lake, Manitoba, attended Normal School in Winnipeg, and spent one year in the military at the end of World War II. He began his teaching career in 1946, and later received Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Manitoba.

He campaigned for a seat on the Winnipeg City Council in 1974 and 1977, but was defeated both times. He was elected as a trustee on the Winnipeg School Division No. 1 in 1983 and served until 1995, when he chose not to seek re-election.

A man named "Ed Kowalchuk" sought the provincial New Democratic Party nomination for Burrows in the buildup to the 1988 provincial election, losing to Doug Martindale. It is not clear if this was the same person.

Views

Kowalchuk supported the creation of aboriginal schools in Winnipeg, as a means of promoting native self-improvement. He supported a zero-tolerance policy against violence, and opposed budget cuts that reduced the number of counsellors and special-needs educators.[1]

He also opposed the elimination of religious activities within the school system in 1991, saying "I have a big problem banning all religious activity. They tried that in Russia 70 years ago and it didn't work".[2][3] He believed that it would be unfair to force students or staff to participate in religious exercises, but argued that the school system should allow "an opportunity for religious expression by various groups".[4] He was ultimately unsuccessful in this battle.

In 1994, Kowalchuk and other trustees defeated a motion which called for students to be taught lessons in tolerance toward people of different sexual orientation.[5] He described homosexuality as "abnormal", and suggested that counsellors be made available for children who believed they were homosexual.[6]

Kowalchuk died on June 4, 2003, following a lengthy struggle with cancer.[7]

Footnotes
  1. Aldo Santin, "Violent kids may be out", Winnipeg Free Press, 13 February 1994; David Kuxhaus, "Board spares nursery school", Winnipeg Free Press, 18 May 1994.
  2. Kevin Rollason, "They will never be forgotten", Winnipeg Free Press, 31 December 2003, A6.
  3. George Nikides, "Province's biggest school division may soon silence the Lord's Prayer", Winnipeg Free Press, 5 September 1991.
  4. "Court to settle religion issue", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 30 November 1991, D8.
  5. Bill Redekop, "Board defeats gay ed motion", Winnipeg Free Press, 19 October 1994.
  6. Lindor Reynolds, "No steps forward, several back", Winnipeg Free Press, 21 October 1994.
  7. "Trustee fought for inner city", Winnipeg Free Press, 10 June 2003, B2.
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