RENFREW COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
RCDSB Welcomes Indigenous Trustee Christina Ruddy

Yesterday (June 1), the RCDSB Board of Trustees held a special swearing in-ceremony for new Indigenous Trustee, Christina Ruddy. Trustee Ruddy was appointed to the role by the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation Chief and Council in May.  

As a proud Algonquin woman of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Christina has spent her career working to empower Indigenous youth through education, art, and role modeling. Trustee Ruddy has worked in grass roots movements such as Friendship Centres, in post-secondary institutions at Georgian College, Lakehead University, and in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Education. Since returning to the Ottawa Valley in 2012, she has become a passionate advocate for reconciliation in the National Capital Region. 

A successful alumnus of the first graduating class of the Native Community and Social Development program from Georgian College, in 2012 Trustee Ruddy received the Board of Governor's award of Excellence - Distinguished Alumni - for her work with Indigenous youth.

Trustee Ruddy has collaborated with educators and administrators from multiple school boards across Turtle Island, worked as a mentor with Indigenous artists, and has shared her experiences as an Algonquin artist and researcher at several conferences. In 2018 Trustee Ruddy, along with Dr. Ruth Beatty, were awarded the Indigenous Partnership Research Award during Lakehead University's Research and Innovation awards ceremony as a testament to her leadership in this project.   

In 2019 she became a published contributing author with Rubicon Publishing for the publication "My Best Ideas - Math", along with several other nationally renowned STEAM leaders. In April of 2022 she was again published alongside several other Indigenous creators in a publication entitled "Resurgence" with Portage & Main publishing. 

As a community leader dedicated to the preservation of Indigenous culture, and through her passion of empowering Indigenous youth to celebrate their identity, language, and culture, the RCDSB is honoured to welcoming Trustee Ruddy to her new and important role on the RCDSB Board of Trustees.