By Victoria Surla
Yesterday, the Dialog hosted a virtual elections forum in which candidates running for the Fall 2020 Student Association of George Brown College elections advocated for themselves and their platforms.
Get to know the individuals that may soon become the decision makers for your 2020/2021 academic year at the SAGBC.
The SAGBC funds the Dialog.
Taranjeet Singh Manchanda
Candidate for Director of Communications and Internal
Having served as a board member, and presently operating as the Director of Education and Equity for the SAGBC, Manchanda says he is passionate about lobbying with the school for more inclusive and accessible policies for students. If elected, he says his focus will be on “providing a strong ground to work on towards solidarity from dismantling racism, advocating for constituency groups, and domestic and international students.”
“We are essential and we all deserve better,” he says.
Vishali Sitharthan has withdrawn from the election, leaving Manchanda as the only remaining candidate for the director of communications and internal position.
Sagar Sharma
Director of Operations Candidate
Sharma says that “running an organization requires good governance, which in turn needs operatives who have the caliber to derive the organization in benefit of its people.” Currently serving as assistant operations technician with the City of Brampton, Sharma says his experience makes him well-suited to understand the tasks and operations the job requires.
“I would like my actions to be more effective than my words,” says Sharma. “I want to make the Student Association and GBC more comfortable and responsible in terms of taking care of their students.”
Stefan Enrique Joseph Kallikaden
Community Services and Early Childhood Education Representative Candidate
Kallikaden says that having access to quality education is a vital part of the growth of society. As a student in the community worker program, 
Kallikaden also says he understands the role of “shaping the way society functions, that in turn influences the systems of our upcoming generation”. Kallikaden says he would bring an added diverse perspective to the board while representing his peers and centre and work towards effective change that would benefit all.
“I have been working within my program in creating a space between the first and second-year students to broaden the inclusivity of our program itself. I would like to take this initiative further and create more inclusivity centre-wide,” says Kallikaden.
Victoria Villanueva
Community Services and Early Childhood Education Representative Candidate
Already having received a diploma in Early Childhood Education, Villanueva is currently in her second semester of the Fast-Track Community Worker program at George Brown College. Serving as a volunteer at CAMH and a Young Adult Council Member at Stella’s Place, Villanueva is in charge of providing feedback on policies and programming, supporting CAMH’s research projects, and organizing for the Young Adult Council. Her focuses include starting a student advisory board, asking for more financial transparency, and listing relevant placements that are still accepting students during COVID-19.
“I understand I have many big tasks to advocate for, but I see it as me shooting for the moon because even if I miss, we could land on the stars,” says Villanueva.
Voting for the Fall 2020 SAGBC elections is now open and will close on November 27 at 8:00 p.m. (EST).
To place your votes, visit the Student Association’s Fall Election 2020 or go to sagbc.simplyvoting.com.
