

Chris Herhalt, CP24.com





Sheila Ward, a member of the unified Toronto District School Board since its formation in 1997 and its former chair, died Wednesday, the school board wrote in a news release.

Ward served as the board’s chair from 2003 to 2007, and served as a trustee for the Toronto Centre Rosedale area right until her death.

“Sheila was a tireless advocate for her community and public education in the City of Toronto,” TDSB Chair Robin Pilkey and Director of Education John Malloy said in a news release.

“In the days and weeks ahead, we will be looking at how best to celebrate Sheila’s life. The flags at the Board’s Education Centres will be lowered to half-staff for the remainder of the week in her memory,” Pilkey and Malloy said.

Ward had worked as a high school teacher in the suburbs of Hamilton for four years and once served as the executive director of both the Regina and Kitchener Waterloo YWCAs.

She also worked as a print and television journalist in Saskatchewan and a communications consultant. She owned her own communications firm from 1985 onwards.