Svetlana Sotiroff MacDonald
Encyclopedia
Svetlana MacDonald, B.A. M.A., Ph.D., L.L.B. (October 9, 1943 in Geneva
- ) is a London
, Ontario
-area lawyer, otarian]. She is a former French language school board rustee],past chair of the London Public Library
Board and past Clerk of the Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC - Quakers). She sits on the board for Carrefour des Femmes du Sud-Ouest de l'Ontario (CFSOO) and the Council for the Ontario Bar Association.
Born in Switzerland
during the Second World War, she moved to New York City as a child and then to Kitchener
, Canada when the political situation in the United States became undesirable, as her family was educated and of eastern European origin. Despite her Slavic given name and Gaelic surname, her mother tongue is French, and she is thus considered to linguistically be a Franco-Ontarian
.
She played a leading role in the founding of French language education in London, Ontario, particularly as head of the (now-defunct) French language section of the London Board of Education
. MacDonald was instrumental in the establishment of La Ribambelle
French language day care, the development of École secondaire Gabriel-Dumont
, the Centre Desloges and French language education in general in the London area. At times she has been the only lawyer to offer French Language services in the London area.
As Clerk for Canadian Friends Service Committee
, she was a spokesperson for the Religious Society of Friends in favor of extending the definition of marriage to same sex couples.
MacDonald holds a Ph.D. in French literature as well as her law degree from the University of Western Ontario
. She joined the Religious Society of Friends
in 2001. Although her mother was one of the founding members of the Kitchener area Monthly meeting
, Svetlana is not a birthright
Quaker. Since becoming a member of the Religious Society of Friends, she has become active on peace and social justice issues.
MacDonald is the daughter of George D. Sotiroff born in Sofia
, Bulgaria and Irene Sotiroff née Torday born in Budapest
, Hungary. She and her husband Ross, have four sons, Gregory, Anthony, Stephen and Philip. She has one brother, George C. Sotiroff who is a civil servant and musician in New York City.
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
- ) is a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
-area lawyer, otarian]. She is a former French language school board rustee],past chair of the London Public Library
London Public Library
The London Public Library is the public library system of London, Ontario Canada. The London Public Library opened in November 1896.It now has 16 branches open to the public. The branches are:* Beacock 1280 Huron Street...
Board and past Clerk of the Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC - Quakers). She sits on the board for Carrefour des Femmes du Sud-Ouest de l'Ontario (CFSOO) and the Council for the Ontario Bar Association.
Born in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
during the Second World War, she moved to New York City as a child and then to Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
, Canada when the political situation in the United States became undesirable, as her family was educated and of eastern European origin. Despite her Slavic given name and Gaelic surname, her mother tongue is French, and she is thus considered to linguistically be a Franco-Ontarian
Franco-Ontarian
Franco-Ontarians are French Canadian or francophone residents of the Canadian province of Ontario. They are sometimes known as "Ontarois"....
.
She played a leading role in the founding of French language education in London, Ontario, particularly as head of the (now-defunct) French language section of the London Board of Education
Thames Valley District School Board
The Thames Valley District School Board is a public school board in southwestern Ontario. It was created on January 1, 1998 by the amalgamation of the Elgin County Board of Education, The Board of Education for the City of London, Middlesex County Board of Education, and Oxford County Board of...
. MacDonald was instrumental in the establishment of La Ribambelle
La Ribambelle
La Ribambelle is a Belgian comics series about a gang of kids living in the same neighbourhood. There were two versions of this strip: Joseph Loeckx drew a one-off story in 1958, but the longer-lasting version was that of Jean Roba who created a whole new set of...
French language day care, the development of École secondaire Gabriel-Dumont
École secondaire Gabriel-Dumont
École secondaire Gabriel-Dumont is the public French first language high school in London, Ontario, Canada. It is located in north-east London on Huron Street, in le Centre Desloges . CDL also hosts the Catholic French high school , the Franco-Ontarian community centre in London, and a Catholic...
, the Centre Desloges and French language education in general in the London area. At times she has been the only lawyer to offer French Language services in the London area.
As Clerk for Canadian Friends Service Committee
Canadian Friends Service Committee
Canadian Friends Service Committee isCanadian Friends Service Committee Founded in 1931, acts on the peace and social justice concerns of the Religious Society of Friends in Canada. The outward expression of Quakerism is service...
, she was a spokesperson for the Religious Society of Friends in favor of extending the definition of marriage to same sex couples.
MacDonald holds a Ph.D. in French literature as well as her law degree from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
. She joined the Religious Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
in 2001. Although her mother was one of the founding members of the Kitchener area Monthly meeting
Monthly meeting
Monthly Meetings are, traditionally, the basic unit of administration in the Religious Society of Friends .For some Friends a Monthly Meeting is a single Meeting , while for others it is a grouping of Meetings which come together for administrative purposes. Membership in the Religious Society of...
, Svetlana is not a birthright
Birthright
Birthright is a term that refers to something that is acquired or inherited at birth. It may further refer to:- Ancient and modern Law :* primogeniture, rights of the firstborn* birthright citizenship- Literature :...
Quaker. Since becoming a member of the Religious Society of Friends, she has become active on peace and social justice issues.
MacDonald is the daughter of George D. Sotiroff born in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Bulgaria and Irene Sotiroff née Torday born in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary. She and her husband Ross, have four sons, Gregory, Anthony, Stephen and Philip. She has one brother, George C. Sotiroff who is a civil servant and musician in New York City.
Related links
- École secondaire Gabriel-DumontÉcole secondaire Gabriel-DumontÉcole secondaire Gabriel-Dumont is the public French first language high school in London, Ontario, Canada. It is located in north-east London on Huron Street, in le Centre Desloges . CDL also hosts the Catholic French high school , the Franco-Ontarian community centre in London, and a Catholic...
- Quakers
- List of Quakers
- Peace TestimonyPeace TestimonyPeace testimony, or testimony against war, is a shorthand description of the action generally taken by members of the Religious Society of Friends for peace and against participation in war. Like other Quaker testimonies, it is not a "belief", but a description of committed actions, in this case...
- Franco-OntarianFranco-OntarianFranco-Ontarians are French Canadian or francophone residents of the Canadian province of Ontario. They are sometimes known as "Ontarois"....