She has been a dedicated Toronto District School Board trustee since 1972.  Now, Irene Atkinson is fighting to stay alive in hospital after suffering severe smoke inhalation in a fire at her High Park home on Saturday night.  Another woman, who made the call to 911, had to be rescued off the third floor balcony because the smoke was too thick to come down through the house.  Shawn Chen is the Vice Chair of the Toronto District School Board.  He says Irene Atkinson has dedicated her adult life to serving the students of Toronto’s public schools.  “She has fought diligently and very passionately for public education,” he told the CBC, “She has served as a former chair of the TDSB.  She has given over forty years of service in public education.”

Political leaders including Premier Kathleen Wynne and Mayor Rob Ford are also pulling for Atkinson to recover.  “I’m very sorry to hear that, and I hope she pulls through,” Mayor Ford told CP24 while at Toronto’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, “Trustee Atkinson has been a trustee in Toronto for a long time.  I’ll say a prayer for her and hope she pulls through.  It’s a tragedy when something like this happens.”