What are some of the ways you’ve been involved in the community over the years?

I’ve been elected as a Youth Council Tenant Rep, I used to work with Unison at the Harm Reduction Program. Paulos was the program person at the time, and Sarah was there as well. I worked with the Words to Live by Program, I was Vice President of the Board of the Lawrence Heights Community Day Care. I made a deputation at North York Community Council about revitalization. I’m a Community Animator with Toronto Housing, we won the Canadian Urban Institute Ward for Local Heroes in 2011. I won a Limitless Heights Scholarship in 2013.

It was because of my own experiences, and the lived experiences of people in the community, especially the youth. I’ve seen how the justice system plays out there. Not only that, I’m interested in immigration law as well. That has a piece of my heart, I guess because of my own experiences coming here. I went to Humber College and took the Court and Tribunal Program. I went to Downsview Community Legal Services for my placement. It was very good. It’s an agency that I feel is really working for the community.

Right now I’m a licensed paralegal and I’m working with Bel Air Direct Insurance Company as a licensed insurance advisor.

Tell me about DeReign.

He was born January 4^th, 2010. He’s 5 years old now.

At times, I want to give more to the community because they helped me so much. One of the biggest things is child care. My community is welcoming to me as a young mother with my baby. I used to bring DeReign to the animator meetings, and still get work done. I didn’t feel anyone was judging me. But I have a lot to balance. I think having him really matured me. My own self I could get by, but I have to be there for him. That motivate and push me to keep going, you know?

Trudy Ann and DeReign


You’ve accomplished a lot in your life. What are you most proud of?

I would say it is being a mother and having DeReign. The whole transition I went through from my mom kicking me out because she thought I would have a baby when I was sixteen. I had to stand firm on my foot, work hard to stay in school and make strides. And now where I’m a big woman and I’m mature. I always say I want to break barriers and I want to leave a legacy for DeReign and his kids. I want to leave a strong foundation for my son’s future.

I would like to see the whole community be prosperous. I know things are going to be mixed up. But at the same time to have that same sense of community, with the new community too. I don’t want to see segregation of Lawrence Heights with the new condo people. I’m very big on the whole connectivity piece. I want to see the barriers coming down. I would like to see Lawrence Heights put on a pedestal in the future. I want to see everybody come together - no more have’s and have not’s.

Trudy Ann and Gillian Kranias, LHION Planning Day, 2011