I'm Andrew Kohan, but most people call me Koko, since so many kids were named Andrew in the 80s. My first school division advocacy was as a Grade 1 student, going door to door asking my neighbours to support public schooling with a tax increase. Those neighbours invested in my education, and I've never stopped benefiting from and fighting for public education.

I am an Earl Grey parent and community advocate. I spend my days raising my two kids and teaching them about our responsibilities to serve our community. Together with neighbours, we started the Earl Grey Bike Bus/Bicibus, and we work 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 organized community responses like the No Space for Hate rally, and against the Nuisance Protest bylaw, among many others. I've also worked with neighbours across the city to fight for public libraries to be fully funded and appropriately staffed, and to invest in community-led, evidence-based strategies like the Community Connections space.

Before becoming a stay at home parent, I worked for unions and community organizations to help make sure that community and worker voices were at the table for decision-making to make their lives better.

I live just off Corydon with my partner, who is a professor in the Faculty of Education at UofM, our young kids, and our giant golden retriever. We love playing in our school playgrounds, riding our bikes, and eating ice cream (our youngest kid 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.

Funding for my campaign to be Trustee for Winnipeg School Division Ward 2 comes from grassroots neighbours in Winnipeg! I believe in the power of community to do big things, so we don't need (or accept) outside funders with their own agendas!

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

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