TORONTO, ON – The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has presented Tim Cunningham, a retired teacher and former president of the Peel Elementary Teachers’ Local (PETL), with its 2021 Honorary Life Membership Award.

Honorary life memberships, the Federation’s highest form of recognition, are given to members who have retired from the education profession and have given outstanding service to the Federation at the provincial level or as a member of the provincial ETFO staff. Cunningham retired in June 2019.

Cunningham served as president of PETL for seven years, and as a vice-president in the preceding four years. He provided outstanding support to members and advocacy for public education during his time with the local. He also demonstrated that he was a committed, empathetic and collaborative leader.

Provincially, Cunningham served as chair and member of ETFO’s Teacher Education/Faculty Liaison Committee. He was also chair and member of the Faculty of Education Liaison Committee with the Ontario Teachers’ Federation. 

Cunningham is passionate about lifelong professional learning, and developed and facilitated many programs for ETFO members, both locally and provincially, including ETFO credit courses on Cooperative Learning, and Successful Teaching for Acceptance of Responsibility, and the ETFO Education Law Additional Qualification course. 

In the fight against Bill 115, Putting Students First Act, Cunningham was tireless. He spoke with media, shared the local’s position as teachers participated in a one-day strike, and was adamant that the fight would continue until the bill was repealed. 

“Towards the end of Tim’s career, he took on a position at ETFO provincial. This allowed members from across Ontario to benefit from his wealth of knowledge and support. We are grateful to Tim for his longstanding commitment to public education, to students and to serving ETFO members,” says ETFO President Sam Hammond.

ETFO represents 83,000 elementary public school teachers, occasional teachers and education professionals across the province. Its Building Better Schools education agenda can be viewed at BuildingBetterSchools.ca. 

Media Contact: Carla Pereira, ETFO Media Relations, 416-576-9074 or cpereira@etfo.org.