Winnipeg Votes 2026, Pradeev Sockalingam, School Trustee Candidate for SJASD, East

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How can local schools expand youth programming, support student mental health, and bring back community-based drop-in sports programs for families?

In this episode of Winnipeg Votes 2026, host Graham McDonald speaks with Pradeev Sockalingam, candidate for School Trustee in the East Ward of the St. James-Assiniboia School Division.

Drawing from his 20-year career in the financial sector, his work with National Bank of Canada, and his extensive experience coaching youth sports, Pradeev shares his vision for expanding youth activities, managing the division's budget responsibly, and addressing key community priorities.

The conversation explores major issues facing the school division, including the 8.87% mill rate increase, provincial funding realities, infrastructure needs for older schools, rising enrollment, bus transportation disruptions, student mental health, language support for newcomer families, and truth and reconciliation in education.

Pradeev explains his desire to partner with the city to revive affordable summer drop-in programs, protect youth sports and extracurricular activities, and foster open communication between parents, schools, and board leadership.

0:00 Bringing Back Summer Drop-In Programs for Local Youth

0:46 Meet Pradeep Sockalingam: Financial Professional & Youth Coach

1:32 Why He Decided to Run for School Trustee

2:02 Financial Background and Understanding Community Needs

2:17 Top Issues Facing Families in the East Ward

2:57 Approaching the $146.6M School Division Budget

3:33 Funding Pressures and Protecting Youth Sports

4:15 Balancing Service Improvements with Taxpayer Impact

5:05 Prioritizing $18M in School Infrastructure & Building Upgrades

5:51 Managing Enrollment Growth and Staffing Needs

6:25 Improving Bus Driver Reliability and Transportation Plans

7:22 School Division's Role in Supporting Student Mental Health

8:00 Enhancing Support and Multilingual Info for EAL Families

9:00 Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous Education in Schools

9:37 Navigating the Pros and Cons of AI in Classrooms

10:48 Collaborating with Other Board Members for Ward Interests

Winnipeg Votes 2026 is U Multicultural Channel’s ongoing coverage of the 2026 Winnipeg Municipal Election, connecting voters with the candidates seeking to represent their communities.

Disclaimer: As part of U Multicultural’s 2026 Winnipeg Municipal Election Coverage, candidates were invited to share messages with our audience. The views expressed in this article are the candidate’s own, and this article does not constitute an endorsement by U Multicultural.