← York Region District School Board Trustee, Markham Wards 5 & 7

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York Region District School Board Trustee, Markham Wards 5 & 7 · Markham

4 candidates for 1 seat

Everyone is compared on the same 2 issues, in the same order. Candidates are listed alphabetically, and the order of issues is not a ranking. Each candidate's bio appears at the top, above the issues. How this works.

Candidate positions for York Region District School Board Trustee, Markham Wards 5 & 7, by issue
Issue	Garishan Ravishankar No website or social media listed	Hemamalini Venkataraman No website or social media listed	Michael ChenElected (official result) No website or social media listed	Rukshan Para No website or social media listed
Bio	No bio on record. Know something?	No bio on record. Know something?	No bio on record. Know something?	No bio on record. Know something?
What a trustee actually doesDoes the candidate understand the trustee job?	Not reviewed yet. Know something?	This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Venkataraman wants parents, students, educators and community to have a real say, not just be consulted. Commitment 'One Community, Working Together — Not Consulted. Involved.': structures for parents, students, teachers and community members to have a say and see results from their input. “A strong school system is one where parents, students, educators, and the broader community have a say.” (several paragraphs) Source: Hemamalini Venkataraman — YRDSB Trustee Candidate, Markham Wards 5 & 7 (campaign site) Confidence:High Venkataraman runs on accountability: every claim held to in the public eye. 'Why I'm Running' theme: 'Accountability isn't a slogan. It's a track record.' — she promises any claim she makes will be held accountable in the public eye. “Accountability isn't a slogan. It's a track record.” (several paragraphs) Source: Hemamalini Venkataraman — YRDSB Trustee Candidate, Markham Wards 5 & 7 (campaign site) Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong?	Re-elected 2022 trustee Chen commits to student success, responsible governance and community engagement. Incumbent trustee (elected 2022, chaired all three major YRDSB standing committees 2023–2026): bringing a strong commitment to student success, responsible governance, and community engagement. Show their words & sourceHide (several paragraphs) “I was honoured to be elected as a York Region District School Board Public School Trustee in 2022, bringing a strong commitment to student success, responsible governance, and community engagement.” Source: Meet Michael — Re-Elect Michael Chen for YRDSB Trustee, Wards 5 and 7 Confidence:High	Not reviewed yet. Know something?
Student wellbeing and learningWill kids be safe, supported and learning well?	Not reviewed yet. Know something?	This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Venkataraman centres her trustee bid on every child feeling safe and respected in school. Commitment 'Safe, Respectful, Mentally Healthy Schools': every child deserves to feel safe and respected in school. “Every child deserves to feel safe and respected in school.” (several paragraphs) Source: Hemamalini Venkataraman — YRDSB Trustee Candidate, Markham Wards 5 & 7 (campaign site) Confidence:High Venkataraman wants consistently enforced anti-bullying measures and youth counsellors in every school. Calls for strong anti-bullying measures and policies consistently enforced for all children, regardless of socio-economic status, plus youth mentorship initiatives and counsellors in every school. “That means strong anti-bullying measures and policies that are consistently enforced for all children, regardless of socio-economic status.” (several paragraphs) Source: Hemamalini Venkataraman — YRDSB Trustee Candidate, Markham Wards 5 & 7 (campaign site) Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong?	This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source. Chen wants to add STEM-focused elements to the YRDSB curriculum without sacrificing fundamental learning. Platform: transform the YRDSB curriculum to add STEM-focused elements, complementing traditional basics rather than replacing them — STEM is about transferrable problem-solving skills, not turning all students into tech workers. “As your School Trustee, I want to transform the YRDSB school curriculum to add STEM-focused elements.” (several paragraphs) Source: STEM-Focus Curriculum — Re-Elect Michael Chen for YRDSB Trustee, Wards 5 and 7 Confidence:High Chen wants schools more connected to community while keeping safety, well-being and learning central. Wants schools to connect more closely with the communities they serve — local businesses, community organizations and cultural groups — while always keeping student safety, well-being, and learning at the heart of education. “As a father, I want to see our schools connect more closely with the communities they serve, while always keeping student safety, well-being, and learning at the heart of education.” (several paragraphs) Source: Meet Michael — Re-Elect Michael Chen for YRDSB Trustee, Wards 5 and 7 Confidence:High Think we’ve got this wrong?	Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Bio

Garishan Ravishankar

No bio on record. Know something?

Hemamalini Venkataraman

No bio on record. Know something?

Michael Chen Elected (official result)

No bio on record. Know something?

Rukshan Para

No bio on record. Know something?

What a trustee actually does

Does the candidate understand the trustee job?

Garishan Ravishankar

No website or social media listed

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Hemamalini Venkataraman

No website or social media listed

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Venkataraman wants parents, students, educators and community to have a real say, not just be consulted.

Commitment 'One Community, Working Together — Not Consulted. Involved.': structures for parents, students, teachers and community members to have a say and see results from their input.

“A strong school system is one where parents, students, educators, and the broader community have a say.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Hemamalini Venkataraman — YRDSB Trustee Candidate, Markham Wards 5 & 7 (campaign site)

Confidence:High

Venkataraman runs on accountability: every claim held to in the public eye.

'Why I'm Running' theme: 'Accountability isn't a slogan. It's a track record.' — she promises any claim she makes will be held accountable in the public eye.

“Accountability isn't a slogan. It's a track record.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Hemamalini Venkataraman — YRDSB Trustee Candidate, Markham Wards 5 & 7 (campaign site)

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Michael Chen Elected (official result)

No website or social media listed

Re-elected 2022 trustee Chen commits to student success, responsible governance and community engagement.

Incumbent trustee (elected 2022, chaired all three major YRDSB standing committees 2023–2026): bringing a strong commitment to student success, responsible governance, and community engagement.

Show their words & source (several paragraphs)

“I was honoured to be elected as a York Region District School Board Public School Trustee in 2022, bringing a strong commitment to student success, responsible governance, and community engagement.”

Source: Meet Michael — Re-Elect Michael Chen for YRDSB Trustee, Wards 5 and 7

Confidence:High

Rukshan Para

No website or social media listed

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Student wellbeing and learning

Will kids be safe, supported and learning well?

Garishan Ravishankar

No website or social media listed

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Hemamalini Venkataraman

No website or social media listed

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Venkataraman centres her trustee bid on every child feeling safe and respected in school.

Commitment 'Safe, Respectful, Mentally Healthy Schools': every child deserves to feel safe and respected in school.

“Every child deserves to feel safe and respected in school.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Hemamalini Venkataraman — YRDSB Trustee Candidate, Markham Wards 5 & 7 (campaign site)

Confidence:High

Venkataraman wants consistently enforced anti-bullying measures and youth counsellors in every school.

Calls for strong anti-bullying measures and policies consistently enforced for all children, regardless of socio-economic status, plus youth mentorship initiatives and counsellors in every school.

“That means strong anti-bullying measures and policies that are consistently enforced for all children, regardless of socio-economic status.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Hemamalini Venkataraman — YRDSB Trustee Candidate, Markham Wards 5 & 7 (campaign site)

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Michael Chen Elected (official result)

No website or social media listed

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

Chen wants to add STEM-focused elements to the YRDSB curriculum without sacrificing fundamental learning.

Platform: transform the YRDSB curriculum to add STEM-focused elements, complementing traditional basics rather than replacing them — STEM is about transferrable problem-solving skills, not turning all students into tech workers.

“As your School Trustee, I want to transform the YRDSB school curriculum to add STEM-focused elements.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: STEM-Focus Curriculum — Re-Elect Michael Chen for YRDSB Trustee, Wards 5 and 7

Confidence:High

Chen wants schools more connected to community while keeping safety, well-being and learning central.

Wants schools to connect more closely with the communities they serve — local businesses, community organizations and cultural groups — while always keeping student safety, well-being, and learning at the heart of education.

“As a father, I want to see our schools connect more closely with the communities they serve, while always keeping student safety, well-being, and learning at the heart of education.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: Meet Michael — Re-Elect Michael Chen for YRDSB Trustee, Wards 5 and 7

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?