Shailja Verma
February 25, 2013Shailja Verma immigrated to Canada at the age of 16 from New Delhi India.
She has been involved with ESL for more than 35 years in many capacities. She is currently the Manager of the Continuing and Community Education Department for the Ottawa Catholic School Board
From 1993 until 1996 Shailja Co-Chaired the National Working Group on the Development of the Canadian Language Benchmarks. Shailja sits as an expert advisor for the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks. Was an active member of the Ontario LINC Advisory Committee for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (Ontario Region) for 12 years. Involved with TESL provincially and nationally, held various offices on the Boards culminating as President of TESL Ontario and TESL Canada. Currently represents the Ottawa Catholic School Board on the governing council of the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership Board and is a member of the Language and Education sector tables.
Shailja has been a trainer and given workshops to mainstream organizations such as the Ottawa and National Police Forces and Children’s Aid Society as well as to many area elementary and secondary schools on cultural diversity and anti-racism.
In recognition of her work she has received many awards some of which are the Ottawa Citizen Literacy Award, the YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction and the Ontario Newcomer Champion Award.