Myra D'Souza
Myra is a humanitarian committed to peace and social justice. Elected to serve as Governor and School Board Trustee for one of the largest school districts in Alberta, overseeing a district comprising 120 schools, 6,000 employees, 120,000 students, and an $850 million budget for the past 9 years. Myra works tirelessly with passion to ensure every student is empowered to become compassionate, contributing members of society
Myra received the O’CANADA Award of Excellence for her exceptional volunteerism and humanitarian service. She has founded numerous impactful programs and initiatives benefiting thousands of marginalized groups. Known for her compassion and empathy, Myra is deeply committed to the well-being of others, engaging with diverse communities to ensure every voice is heard.
Myra was selected as one of Canada’s 50 Most Diverse Persons to serve on FP500 boards and represented Canada at the United Nations on human rights. She maintains an authentic connection with Indigenous communities, serving on the board of the Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative. As a Peace Ambassador with Up With People, she travelled to five countries for one year, living with over 100 host families to advance global peace.
Myra brings over 30 years of board governance experience serving on high-level boards and holds a Chartered Director designation. She has held key leadership roles across multiple boards. As Audit Committee Chair, she was instrumental in spearheading the School District’s first Risk Report—the first of its kind among Alberta school divisions. Her leadership enabled the implementation of advanced risk mitigation tools, strengthening district protection, governance, and accountability.
Myra is a strong voice advocating for funding, infrastructure, diversity, and educational programs. She works tirelessly to advance inclusion, reconciliation, environmental stewardship, and the success of all for a sustainable global planet.
Myra is outgoing, friendly, and approachable, with a proven track record of building strong relationships and advocating effectively for funding and infrastructure for the school district. She engages authentically with staff, school councils, provincial associations, and political leaders to advance the needs of students and schools.
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As Trustee Myra has held the following positions:
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Vice-Chair of the Board (120 schools with 64,000 students)
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Chair: Audit Committee (800 million Budget)
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Chair: Chief Superintendent and Board Evaluation Committee.
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Director: Alberta Schools Boards Assoc. (61 Alberta school boards).
Board Representative:
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St. Mary’s University
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Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education.(GRACE)
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Teachers’ Employment Bargaining Assoc. (TEBA)
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Zone 5 Alberta Schools Boards Assoc. (ASBA)
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Second Language Caucus (ASCA).
Audit Committee Chair (3 years).
30+ YEARS BOARD GOVERNANCE LEADERSHIP
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Certified Chartered Director C. Dir. designation (McMasters University).
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Selected Canada's 50 Most Diverse Persons for FP500 Boards.
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Governance Instructor (Govt. of Alberta)
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Governor/Trustee: Calgary Separate School Board, and Chair: Audit Committee
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Commissioner: Calgary Police Commission. (2 years)
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Chair: Corrections Canada Citizen’s Advisory (14 years)
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Chair: Outside Review Board, Corrections Canada (2 years)
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Chair: Federated Cooperatives Saskatoon Resolutions (250 national Cooperatives).
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Director: Calgary Co-op, Chair of Nominations and Member Relations. (7 years)
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Director: FOCUS, Chair of Governance Committee. (2 years)
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Director: Servas Canada (2 years)
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Director: Alberta Community Cooperative Assoc. (ACCA), Chair, Stakeholder Relations.
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Director: SW Communities Association. (2 years)
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Board Member: National Investigative Board Corrections Canada
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Board Member: Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative. (7 years.)
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Director/Treasurer: Calgary Social Capital Society