I'm Andrew Kohan, but most call me Koko. I live in WSD Ward 2, just off Corydon, with my partner, our young kids, and our giant golden retriever.

My advocacy started in Grade 1, going door-to-door asking neighbours to support public schooling. Those neighbours invested in my education, and I've never stopped benefiting from and fighting for public education.

Now an Earl Grey parent, I spend my days raising my kids and serving our community. Together with neighbours, we started the Earl Grey Bike Bus and we work with our neighbours on safe streets advocacy to make sure that it is safe for families like ours to walk, bike, scoot, and roll in our community.

I have also organized community responses like the No Space for Hate rally supporting 2SLGBTQ+ communities and fought for fully funded public libraries. Professionally I have been a community organizer, with labour unions and community groups to ensure worker voices are at decision-making tables.

Our family loves playing in our school playgrounds, riding our bikes, and eating ice cream. Our youngest was almost born at BDI!

As a parent and community member, it matters to me that our schools are excellent, equitable, and evidence-based. Here are some of my commitments and priorities for WSD.

Make early investments

From funding kindergarten to providing school nutrition programs, we know that taking care of kids when they are young pays off. It makes learning more possible for kids and it reduces inequality long-term.

• Full day Kindergarten in all WSD schools
• Free Nutrition programs in all WSD schools

Schools as part of communities

Schools are a bedrock of community, so we need to take full advantage of the opportunities and relationships that make our schools great.

• Use the spaces schools have to facilitate expanded childcare options for families
• From PACs to parent-led bike buses to Elders in classrooms, invite community in more!
• Embrace partnerships with ethnocultural organizations to expand facility use for extracurricular and summer programs

Everyone belongs

WSD should be a welcoming, safe, and affirming community for children, families, and staff.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization

Welcome and belonging are essential, but insufficient on their own. We have to work to dismantle barriers to participation that are built into schooling systems through funding mechanisms, discipline patterns, and who gets hired and supported.

Safe streets

Kids and families should be able to play and get to school walking, rolling, riding bikes, and scooting safely.

• Year round, 24-7 school zones to keep kids safe whenever they visit schools and playgrounds, even in the summer or after hours.
• Increased traffic calming like speed bumps and narrowed intersections to make crossings around schools safer for kids of all ages.

Evidence-based

Evidence-based education research and wise practices should guide our decision-making.

Climate change & resilience

Investment in our school buildings can make them more energy efficient and more resilient during and after extreme weather.

Advocate for adequate funding

Watching out for kids means making sure the division has the resources they need to do the work in a good way.

Support for my campaign to be WSD Trustee for Ward 2 comes from grassroots neighbours in Winnipeg who believe in strong public schools!

If you would like to support my campaign as as a small local donor, please make a pledge

If you would like to help, you can volunteer, request a sign, or share what matters to your family here!

I want to hear about what you and your family need from our schools!

Send me an email at elect@andrewkohan.com or give me a call at (204) 816-8827