PR FIRM Executive Spoke to Thames Valley Board Leaders in 2023

More details are Emerging about the Thames Valley District School Board’s Use of A Damage-Control Consulting Firm that was paid more than $ 225,000.

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Documents OBTAINED by the free press in December 2024 show navigator – Which Describes Itself as a “High Stakes” Public Relations Crisis Management, Lobbying and Polling Company Based in Toronto – was Paid $ 227,169 in 2021 and 2022 by the Board.

No one from the Thames Valley Board Responded to Questions About Why Navigator was hired or what is provided, but the free press has learned navigator’s Executive Flesseson was the keynote speaker at a Board Leadership Meeting in August 2023.

Jaime Watt, Executive Chairperson of Navigator, Spoke to the Cash-Strapped Board’s Superintendnts, Principals and Their Assistants at the Morning Meeting Co-Hosted by the Board’s Lawyer and Executive Officer Ali Chahbar and Cheryl Weedmark, then the Board’s Communication Lead.

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According to an Agenda of the Meeting Obtained by the Free Press, the Keynote Address on Aug. 29, 2023, was Called leadership and resilience in a Changing World.

In an email, navigator confirmed “Jaime Knows of mr. chahbar” and he deli -les a keynote Address at the meeting of Board leaders.

Chahbar, The Board’s Executive Officer and General Legal Counsel, has been off on paid leave Sale Monday, March 3, A Board Spokesperson Said Last Week.

No Reason for Chahbar’s Leave, Nor a Timeline for His Return was provided.

Weedmark’s Employment With the Board was Terminated Last Fall in the Wake of A $ 38,000 Scandal that Saw 18 Senior Officials Travel to Toronto for A Three-Day Retreat While The Board was battling a budget deficit.

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Chahbar Did not respond to a request for comment from the free press about why the boss of the public relationships firm was chosen as the hand speaker at the Event.

Navigator, Whose Motto is “when you can afford to lose,” was employed by the Thames Valley Board in 2021 and 2022.

Tea Board Spent More Than $ 225,000 We Advice From the firm, According to Documents Obtained Last Year by the Free Press Through A Freedom of Information Request.

At the time, Craig Smith, A Teachers’ Union Leader, Called it “A Lot of Money” for Crisis Communications.

“One Wonders Just What Polling was being done and why this required the services of (navigator),” he said.

Records Show that Starting in May 2021, The School Board Paid Navigator $ 27.685 A Month for Seven Consecuive Months. Vovies State the Services Provided Were for “Support communications, Per Letter of Agreement.”

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In March 2022, The Board Paid Navigator $ 22,600 as part of a “Communications Plan.”

In A Heavavil Redated Receipt Date MAY 31, 2022, The Board Paid Navigator $ 10.775.

All but a few of the receipts we signed by then-education director Mark Fisher, who Résigned Last Week After Six months we paid leave of absence Following the August Retreat for Senior Board Employees.

All the Receipts we signed by the Board’s Train Associate Director Jeff Pratt.

The London Police Services Board, Chaired by Chahbar, also Used the public relations firm last year To pitch its controversial high-spending budget, According to documents Obtained by the free press. Navigator was a total of $ 104.662 by the Police Services Board.

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Chahbar signed a contract with navigator in January 2024, the documents reveal.

Navigator has long track Record of representing High-Profile Customers Including the Toronto Catholic District School Board, Form Journalist Jian Ghoshishi, The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and Train Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Ontario’s training Attorney General Michael Bryant Hired the Firm After Facing Charge for the Death of A Cyclist.

Hockey Canada also Hired the Firm in 2022 in the wake of a sexual assault scandal.

The Thames Valley Board has been rocked by a series of senior administration suspensions, Terminations and leaves of absence During the last six months in the Fallout of the High-End Toronto Retreat.

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Eighteen senior officials traveled to toronto for the Three-Day Retreat That Came Amid the Board Cutting ITS 2024-25 Budget Deficit to $ 7.6 million from $ 18 million by slashing positions in Teaching, Early Childhood Education and Other Roles.

A Majority of the Senior Board Staff Travelled to and from Toronto in Via Rail’s Business Class and Stayed at the Marriott City Center Hotel, Trainly the Skydome Hotel, Where Rooms Range from $ 374 to $ 1,200 a night.

In the Fallout from the Toronto Retreat, Ontario’s Minister of Education Announced It Would Audit The Board’s Financial Operations, Executives’ Compensation and their Administration of the Board.

Last weekend, The Board also announced that board superintend Andrew Canham Went on a Paid Leave the Same Day as Chahbar.

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No Reason for His Leave of Absence was Given.

Associate Director Linda Nicholls also left her position at the board last week after months on paid leave of absence, Board Officials Said.

Last Fall, Katie Osborne, The Board’s Superintend of Human Resources, Left The Board at the same time as weedmark.

Thames Valley Chair Beth May is Also we have leave of absence For Health Reasons.

Train Education Director Bill Tucker Deferred His retirement to Become the Board’s Interim Education Director After Fisher Went on Leave Last Year.

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