Two councillors are putting pressure on school boards to draft policies allowing for AED installations in all schools.
Local councillors are putting pressure on the TVDSB to ensure AEDs are installed in all schools.
Thames Centre Ward 1 Councillor Kelly Elliot and Zorra Councillor Ward 3 Marcus Ryan are bringing forth a joint motion to their respective councils to get the potentially life saving devices in schools.
Councillor Ryan says this stems from an incident where a school turned down an offer of donated funds.
"The parent council at West Nissouri Public School in Thorndale was trying to get one in their school and met with a lot of difficulties in getting one in even though a local boy, Connor Aarts was on the field at the time Andrew Stoddart died. He personally fundraised the money and offered the AED to the school board to put in that school. And the parents were frustrated."
Other schools have also turned down similar offers in the past.
Frustrated, Elliot and Ryan joined forces to draft this motion which they will be bringing to Zorra Council today, and Thames Centre Council on February 22nd.
"Between the two of us we wrote that motion just to say 'Can we, Thames Valley District School Board, and the Ministry of Education - can we do something to make this happen?'" Ryan says. "I mean - to me it's the worst of government and bureaucracy that frustrates people. A tragedy occurred, a family is raising money and awareness to do this thing, this boy Connor Aarts has raised the money for it, the parents want it, it's to protect our children, yet policies and/or lack of policies is preventing it from happening and there's no good reason for that."
Ryan encourages people to contact school trustees and MPPs lend their voices to the cause.
Oxford Celebrates Black History
Prognostication Pending from Chilly Charlie
OPP Investigating Shakespeare Break and Enter
Teen Killed in Zorra Township Crash
A Cold Start to the Week in Oxford
Multiple Charges Laid after Thefts in Tillsonburg
CASS Offering Unique Program to Students
PJHL Preview - Jan. 30th to Feb. 1st
Woodstock Bowler Heading to Special Olympics
Dog Bite Investigation in Tillsonburg
Interview with the Warden - January 29th, 2026
Trevor Birtch Trial Daily Recap - Case 2
11 People Charged in Massive Drug Bust
Another Cold Warning for Oxford County
Chilly Charlie Returns on Monday
Khanna Shines a Light on Oxford County Superstars
WFD Responds to Structure Fire
WPS Appoints New Deputy Chief
TMMC Woodstock Begins Production of Sixth Gen RAV4
Oxford OPP Briefs - January 28th, 2026
Comments
Add a comment