HAMILTON TEACHER NEW OTF PRESIDENT

TORONTO, Aug. 31 /CNW/ - The OTF Board of Governors last week elected Hamilton teacher Rian McLaughlin as the 67th President of the Ontario Teachers' Federation at its Annual Meeting in Windsor.

A graduate of Brock, McMaster and Trent Universities, Rian McLaughlin has taught all grades and most subjects over her 20 year career.  She has been president of the Hamilton-Wentworth Occasional Teacher Local for nine years. 

McLaughlin has also served on the ETFO Executive since 2001.  Her community involvement includes ongoing support for numerous children's and women's charities and environmental initiatives. She has a special interest in Children's mental health.

At the time of her election McLaughlin sent a message to the teachers of Ontario.

"I am proud to represent each of you and those who have put their trust in you to be their voice.  I am about building connections.  You can be assured that I will encourage new ways of doing, and new ways of thinking. I will support your involvement and strengthen the teacher voice through OTF."

Also elected at the same meeting were:

	Past President:	Reno Melatti, Windsor
	First Vice-President:	Francine LeBlanc-Lebel, Blind River
	Second Vice-President:	George (Joe) Lamoureux, Barrie

The Ontario Teachers' Federation is the advocate for the teaching profession in Ontario and for its 160,000 teachers.  OTF members are full-time, part-time and occasional teachers in all the publicly funded  schools in the province—elementary, secondary, public, Catholic and francophone.

For further information:

Kathleen Devlin
Director, Policy & Public Affairs
[phone]