Dr. Inez Elliston dies at 84

Jamaica-born educator Dr. Inez Naomi Elliston died on February 7  last, after a long illness.

Dr. Elliston who came to Ontario 1969, was 84.

Dr. Elliston received a Bachelor of Arts degree and Diploma in Education from the University of London and the University of the West Indies and  completed a Masters degree in Education from Boston University.In 1976 she was awarded a Masters and PhD in Education from the University of Toronto.

Over the past 40 years,  she has made significant contributions in the areas of multicultural education, anti-racism training, adult education and the delivery of equitable education policies through her work at the Ontario Ministry of Education.

As the first Coordinator for Multiculturalism and Race Relations at the Scarborough Board of Education, Dr. Elliston was responsible for implementing equity-focused initiatives, including building the capacity of Ontario educators to work more effectively in diverse classroom settings.

Dr. Elliston’s tireless efforts and commitment to the field of education earned her numerous awards, including outstanding achievement awards from CCMIE and the Jamaican Canadian Association, and a citation for Citizenship from the Ministry of Citizenship. In 1995, the Scarborough Board of Education established an anti-racist and ethno-cultural equity award in Dr. Elliston’s name. Shortly after being awarded the Order of Ontario, the provinces’ highest honor awarded to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in a given field, Dr. Elliston joined a team of distinguished advisors, appointed by the Premier of Ontario, to deliver recommendations on the future of higher education.

A celebration of Dr. Inez Elliston’s life and work will be held at  the Apple Creek Seventh-Day Adventist church in Markham on  Sunday starting at  2 p.m.