Skills Without Borders Project Co-ordinator Dr. Yamil Alonso

Dr. Alonso was born and educated in Cuba, where he held several management and supervisory positions at the Ministry of Education. In 1984, after completing his Ph.D. in former East Germany, he came to Canada as a political refugee and experienced first hand the usual hurdles faced by newcomers: poor language skills, difficulties with the recognition of his credentials, and a lack of Canadian experience, understanding of the labour market and the Canadian society at large.

Not long after arriving, however, he began to teach at the University of Toronto and at York University, and in 1988 joined a private school in Brampton (Rowntree Montessori School) as Director of Education and Business Partner. During his tenure with the school, Dr Alonso developed all curricula and programs and provided guidance to the faculty and families. He employed teachers and staff from diverse backgrounds, fostering a multicultural atmosphere that provided the student body with learning experiences that encouraged tolerance, understanding and acceptance of cultural and ethnic differences.

A resident of Brampton for more than 20 years, Dr. Alonso has been involved in numerous community projects and charitable events, among them, Jump Rope for Heart, Brampton’s Clean City Committee’s Spring and Fall Clean-ups, and fundraising for the Salvation Army and Women’s shelters.

Dr. Alonso is married to Gudrun, and they have five children, four of them born and raised in Brampton. Together they share a passion for education, social issues, and above all our unique and prosperous multicultural CANADA.