Renata Issley

A Bit About Me

I am the daughter of Holocaust survivors who came to Canada from Poland after the war, grateful for the chance to rebuild their lives. From them, I learned that life is a precious gift that comes with responsibility, and I grew up valuing kindness, generosity, compassion, and a positive attitude — values I hope I’ve passed on to my children and grandchildren.

I always wanted to be a teacher and earned degrees in Arts and Education from McGill University in Montréal. I worked as an elementary schoolteacher and later as a Supervisor of Student Teachers at Concordia University. Beyond academics, I aimed to instill strong values in my students.

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My husband and I have been married for over 55 years. We have two children and two grandchildren, and recently moved from Montreal to Toronto to be close to them. Family is the center of my life.

In 2020, I was diagnosed with advanced kidney disease (stage 4/5 CKD). I am doing everything I can to stay healthy, hoping for a kidney transplant so I can continue to be there for my family.