A Message from Sophia

Dear Everyone,

I am running for School Board Trustee because I have a keen interest in Public Services. I am also passionate about attaining a comprehensive and high quality education for our next generation.  I believe every child in the Vancouver School district deserves to learn and develop in a respectful and safe environment.

When parents send their children to school every morning, they deserve to be assured that their children are safe at school.

If a natural disaster happens or if a police incident occurs, they need to know that there will be a well thought out and well rehearsed plan to steer their loved ones out of harm’s way.

Like all big cities, we have drug addiction problems. No parent would want their children to be involved with illicit drugs. Therefore, we need to be even more proactive in the prevention of drug addiction to children. 

Statistics show that 60% of the students in Vancouver do not speak English at home. I would also like to act as a bridge between the multicultural communities and the school board.

I personally have witnessed through my years of working as a mental health professional that children who came to Canada without speaking a word of English are now successful professionals

A successful education is therefore essential in helping immigrant children to become upstanding and contributing members of our society.

Statistics shows that 1 out of 3 individuals including children and youth will experience some form of mental condition within their life span. Statistics also show that suicide is the number one killer of the North American youth. Therefore, early detection and intervention are very important in minimizing such negative impact.

As my election platform, I would like to promote cultural harmony, school safety, emergency preparedness, early intervention of mental health problems and parental involvement in their children’s education. 

I am trained as a mental health professional. I worked as a Multicultural Mental Health Liaison Worker for 13 years. Currently I am working as a Mental Health Clinician at West Side Mental Health Team, Vancouver Coastal Health.

I am very active in community work. I am honoured to be a Paul Harris Fellow, and a recipient of the Outstanding Chinese Woman Award in 2007 from the Chinese Women Association.

I sit on the boards for the Rotary Club of Vancouver Chinatown, Chinese Community Police, and Vancouver Association of Community Police. 

I am a volunteer of SUCCESS, Cancer Agency and Children’s Hospital. I am also the Shop Steward for Health Science Association promoting Occupational Health and Safety.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, I moved to Vancouver in 1978. I received a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from the Simon Fraser University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education Psychology from the University of Calgary and a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Hong Kong..

I am looking forward to working with school officials, students, parents, guardians and community stakeholders to set the priorities for achieving excellence in the public school system.

This is my pledge to you all, and to all residents of Vancouver. I will do my best for the betterment of this community. I have the ability to analyze and to make sense of complex issues in an objective and non-partisan way.

I CARE about every single student. I CARE about every  parent in the city of  Vancouver. I am here for you all. Please work with me.

Elect Sophia WOO to Vancouver School Board on November 19th 2011 to build brighter, healthier and more successful futures for our students.

I hope you can all support me. Thank you.

Sophia Woo

Introduction of Sophia Woo

Sophia Woo is committed and dedicated to public service.  Sophia is running for School Trustee because she realizes the momentous impact of a quality and comprehensible education has on our future generation. Her 15 years’ work experiences as a trained mental health clinician with Vancouver Coastal Health  and her volunteer work with the Rotary Club of Vancouver Chinatown have confirmed her realization. 

Sophia is looking forward to speaking with school officials, students, parents and community stakeholders about their priorities for attaining a safe, respectful and rewarding learning environment for all public school students of all diversities to ensure every student can grow and develop to their fullest potential. Sophia would like to promote cultural harmony, school safety, emergency preparedness, mental health and parental involvement.

Sophia is resourceful, thoughtful, objective and resolute, always willing to help. She knows how to work with teams. Her versatile and multi-dimensional experiences in community work will bring the needed skills to the table.

• Past Board Member & Current Member, Rotary Club of Vancouver Chinatown
• Board Member, Chinese Community Police Center
• Board Member, Vancouver Association of Community Police Center
• Recipient of Outstanding Chinese Woman Award, 2007
• Paul Harris Fellow
• Past Board Member, Riverview Hospital
• Shop Steward, Occupational Health & Safety, Health Science Association
• Mental Health Clinician, Vancouver Coastal Health
• Member, Arbutus Lions Club

Sophia has published in professional journals and medical educational booklets. She speaks at local, national and international conferences, co-ordinates community workshops and facilitates parents and family support groups.

Sophia, born and raised in Hong Kong, immigrated to Vancouver in 1978. She received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from HKU, a Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Psychology from the University of Calgary and a B.A. degree in Sociology from Simon Fraser University.

Sophia Woo's contact info: