About James

James and his three sisters, children of immigrants from Vietnam, are former students and graduates of public schools in the former North York Board of Education and the current Toronto District School Board. 

With the education and knowledge provided to him by his elementary teachers, secondary teachers, and other school staff at the NYBE and TDSB, James was able to complete two degrees, an Honours Bachelor of Science with High Distinction (majors in Linguistics and Neuroscience) and a Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology, from the University of Toronto, Canada's largest public research university. 

James moved to Victoria in 2017 to work for the Saanich School District (SD63) and the Greater Victoria School District (SD61) as a speech-language pathologist (SLP, or speech therapist), working across multiple elementary schools, one middle school, and one secondary school. James had the honour of helping students with their speech, language, voice, fluency, and AAC (augmentative and alternative communication). 

During his two-and-a-half years as a school SLP, James was able to see the joys and the challenges of the public education system in Victoria and British Columbia. James feels that his knowledge and experience of working in schools in B.C. and in New Brunswick (see below) will serve him well as a school trustee.

In late 2019, James switched to working full time in health care as a speech-language pathologist practising in the areas of swallowing/dysphagia and acquired communication disorders. James continues to work in the hospital system and maintains a current licence with the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC). James is a proud member of the Health Sciences Association of British Columbia (HSA), and James also serves as a general steward at his workplace. 

James is a certified member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC), the national association for SLPs and audiologists. James is also a member of Speech and Hearing BC, the provincial association for SLPs and audiologists. 

James lives in Victoria with his wife and their dog, Maple. 

• Husband/spouse, son/child, brother/sibling, uncle, nephew, cousin, dog owner 

• Speaker of Canadian English, Canadian French, southern Vietnamese and lover of all languages spoken, written, and manually signed 

• Licensed full-time SLP at the local acute-care hospital since 2019; general union steward 

• Clinical faculty member at B.C.'s only SLP and Audiology school, educating students completing their Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology 

• Former school SLP in SD61 (2017–2019) and SD63 (2017–2018) 

• Former Director of Social Media for Speech and Hearing BC (2017–2018) 

• Co-author of two peer-reviewed scientific research publications (see 1, 2) 

• Former English Language Assistant at the District scolaire francophone Nord-Ouest in New Brunswick (2008–2009) 

• Walker/pedestrian, public transit rider, cyclist, and reluctant motorist 

• Participant in an in-person Jeopardy! contestant audition in Seattle in July 2019 

• Fan of Pacific FC and a season-ticket holder since day 2 (i.e., since 2019) 

• Fan of sports and sports teams! Fan of Vancouver Rise FC, AFC Toronto, Vancouver Goldeneyes, Toronto Sceptres, Toronto Tempo, Toronto Raptors, Vancouver Bandits, Scarborough Shooting Stars, Toronto Blue Jays, Vancouver Whitecaps, BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Rock, and Victoria Royals

• Fan of the Canadian national teams and individual Canadian athletes 

• Also a long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fan