Candidates for the parent seats on the Board of Governors

Patricia Briand

Patricia Briand is Head of School at The Sacred Heart School of Montreal. Her son is currently in his first year of Vanier College’s Languages and Cultures program. Her experience in education spans public and independent schools, adult and vocational education, as well as extensive work with Indigenous communities.

She currently serves as Vice-President of the Quebec Association of Independent Schools (QAIS) and sits on the board of the Sacred Heart Network of Schools, which includes 25 schools across the United States and Canada. These roles draw on her experience in educational leadership and governance.

A lifelong learner, Patricia holds degrees from McGill University and Bishop’s University and has enriched her educational background through studies in Social Work and Positive Psychology. As a mother of two children whose educational journeys have been very different, Patricia appreciates the importance of recognizing each young person’s strengths and providing the encouragement and support they need to find their confidence and their own path.

Darryl Levine

Vanier’s first responsibility is to prepare our kids for what comes next, whether that is university or the workforce. AI tools are changing the way we work, creating immense uncertainty about which skills will matter and how adaptable our kids will need to be. It’s more important than ever to prepare them, and that should be the laser focus of the Board of Governors, administration and faculty.

As parents, we are also raising tomorrow’s citizens. So in addition to the skills they gain at Vanier, I want all our children to appreciate Quebec and Canada and to respect the traditions they inherit: the rule of law, individual liberty and parliamentary democracy. Our school is named for Georges Vanier, who fought in the First World War, lost a leg, and continued to serve his country for the next 50 years, eventually becoming Governor General of Canada. His name should mean something to every student who earns a Vanier diploma.

I am lucky enough to have one of those Vanier diplomas. I studied here from 1991 to 1993 and earned my DEC in Liberal Arts. I also spent a year on the Vanier College Students’ Association and hosted a show on CKVR, the student radio station. I have good memories from this CEGEP.

After Vanier, I graduated with a BA in Philosophy from McGill and a BA in Journalism from Concordia. For the past 20 years I have been the Director of Public Affairs, Communications, and IT at the City of Côte Saint-Luc. I sit on the senior management team, report to the Mayor and Director General, and work on public policy, public communications and technology. I'm also a husband and father of three living in the West Island.

Elise Levinoff

Dr. Elise Levinoff is a staff Geriatrician and Internist at the Jewish General Hospital, where she serves as Director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine. She is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Dr. Levinoff brings extensive leadership and governance experience through her service on hospital and healthcare organization boards, as well as her work leading innovation, quality improvement, and strategic initiatives within the healthcare system. A dedicated educator, she has held leadership roles in medical education, including serving as Program Director for Internal Medicine residency training.

As the mother of two daughters, one attending high school and the other studying Music and Social Sciences at Vanier College, Dr. Levinoff has a strong appreciation for the importance of accessible, high-quality education and student success. She is committed to fostering environments that support learning, personal growth, and community engagement.

Outside of her professional activities, Dr. Levinoff enjoys staying active through a variety of sports and listening to podcasts focused on current affairs, leadership, health, and lifelong learning.

Alexandra Malka

Thirty years ago, Alexandra Malka was a student at Vanier College. Today, she's back as a parent, seeing the College from a whole new perspective.

Education has always been an important part of Alexandra's life. Her mother dedicated over 45 years to teaching and school leadership, instilling in her a strong belief in the power of education to open doors and shape young people's futures.

Alexandra has carried that commitment into her own community. She served seven years on her children's high school governing board and six years as PTA president, working alongside parents, teachers, and administrators. These experiences gave her firsthand knowledge of school governance and reinforced her belief in parent involvement, inclusive education, and equal opportunities for every student.

Professionally, Alexandra brings over 25 years of experience in business, technology, and entrepreneurship. Her career includes leadership roles at Cisco and i3International, owning and operating two Montréal businesses, and working in residential real estate. She also remains active in her community through volunteer initiatives.

As a parent representative, Alexandra would bring experience, sound judgment, and a willingness to listen. She believes parents should have a meaningful voice in Vanier's future and would be committed to representing their perspectives while keeping students' needs at the heart of her decisions.