REINSTATED the ‘Our Father’ prayer during daily morning prayers at all HCDSB elementary and secondary schools;

ESTABLISHED French Immersion as a permanent program open to all registrants with an added site at St. Marguerite d’Youville School;

SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT for retaining the pre-International Baccalaureate (IB) and pre-Advanced Placement (AP) math when threatened to be cut by de-streaming;

APPROVED the expansion of the IB and AP programs;

SUPPORTED all S.T.E.A.M programming initiatives;

SUPPORTED establishment of the International Day of People with Disabilities across all HCDSB schools;

RALLIED the public against school closures and succeeded in keeping Oakville’s Holy Family School open in Ward 6;

PROPOSED policy to ensure fundraising for charities in HCDSB schools aligns with Catholic teaching on the Sanctity of Life, that all human life is sacred from conception to natural death;

ESTABLISHED the annual International Holocaust Awareness Day across all HCDSB schools.

SUPPORT and PROMOTE policies that are in keeping with the teachings of the Catholic Church;

INCREASE academic excellence in language and math as top priorities;

STRENGTHEN religious education (using the Catechism of the Catholic Church), followed by assessment and evaluation;

UNIFY the HCDSB community under one shared flag, the Canadian flag;

ADVOCATE for children with special needs;

STRIVE to maintain smaller class sizes;

RESPECT that parents are the primary educators of their children;

FOSTER the relationship between the home, school and parish;

ENCOURAGE youth engagement in service projects to cultivate generosity.

First elected in 2014, Helena is seeking re-election for a fourth term to continue to build on her achievements and passionately serve the HCDSB community.  She wants to be your voice at the board table.

Helena graduated with a BAA from Ryerson in ’86. She is a professional  freelance photographer, homemaker, community volunteer, and a motivational speaker on issues relating to education, marriage, and the family. She is also fluent in French and Czech.

Helena, and her husband, Henry, have lived and raised their family in Oakville’s Ward 5 for 36 years. They have six children, ages 20 to 37, and four grandchildren.

The Karabelas are active parishioners of St. Michael’s Church, where Helena serves as a lector and a member of the Good Samaritan Committee, the Altar Society and Life Teams.

Helena enjoys hiking, wilderness canoeing and excursions with her family and friends.

Her community involvement includes:
– Founder/Coordinator of Lakeside Girls Club for 18 years;
– Founder/Coordinator of the successful Annual Ladies’ Tea fundraising event for PEV: Promotion of Education and Values, for 10 years.

As a Trustee, Helena served on:
– The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) for 8 years;
– The Catholic Parents Involvement Committee (CPIC) for 4 years;
– Culture of Life Committee for 10 years;
– Discipline Committee for 8 years. 

Helena, with her husband, Henry, their six children, her mother and extended family.