Gardiner Public School
(An Educator, and a Leader in Education, for Halton District School Board)

Ethel Gardiner served Halton community as an educator, and as a leader in education for about 40 years. She was a Halton District School Board teacher from 1967-1995, and a trustee for the Halton Hills community from 1995-2006. She was also elected Chair of the Board for 6 consecutive terms. Ethel’s teaching and educational career included roles as a classroom and special education teacher, teaching principal, trustee and Chair.

In each of these roles, Ethel’s passion for her constituents and community, her advocacy for students and staff, as well as her commitment to public education was very evident. She was quick to herald the accomplishments of students, educators and support staff and often did so in a public forum, further promoting the successes of public education. Ethel also met each task in a fair and equitable manner, and sought relevant information in order to make informed decisions for the betterment of students and staff of the HDSB, and public education as a whole.

As Chair of the Board, Ethel brought leadership and vision to the board of trustees in Halton, pioneering change and focusing outcomes on student achievement. Ethel was honoured for her accomplishments and outstanding service to public education with the prestigious provincial"Dr. Harry Paikin Award of Merit"presented at the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association annual meeting in June 2004. Ethel’s passion for people was accented by other pursuits in her life – commitment to family, volunteer participation on a number of community initiatives, caring for the environment, and a quest for life-long learning and education. Ethel’s leadership, vision, compassion, commitment and dedication are skills that will be long remembered within the Halton District School Board, and by all who had the good fortune to know her.