Current Roles
Suni Matthews is a retired inner-city school principal. Presently she chairs The Newcomer Education Coalition and is a member of The Manitoba Seniors Equity Action Coalition. She is also on the Board of Directors of Pembina Active Living 55+, a seniors organization serving seniors in the South of Winnipeg.
Career & Advocacy
She has worked as a teacher and program development consultant in the former Inner City Branch of the Manitoba Department of Education. For over 4 decades, she has worked in Winnipeg’s Inner City. Ms. Matthews is known for her long-time commitment and advocacy in anti-racist/equity-based education, community involvement/development, and social justice.
Leadership at Dufferin School
As Principal of Dufferin School, she embarked on an Anti-Racist Equity-Centred educational professional development journey with her students, staff, families, and community. The school worked with Ms. Enid Lee, an Equity Anti-Racist education and organizational change consultant/facilitator, to create equity-centred classrooms responsive to race, power, and high academic expectations.
Community Impact
Under Ms. Matthews’ leadership, Dufferin School was involved in a Comprehensive Community-Based Poverty Reduction Initiative. One of its main objectives was to improve prospects in the Centennial neighbourhood through family literacy, pre-school, in-school, and community programmes.
Personal Mission
Ms. Matthews is an advocate for school districts and classrooms in Winnipeg to mirror the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of Canada. In her own career, she overcame systemic educational barriers as both a teacher and administrator.
