About Paulina Ayala
Deputy for Honoré-Mercier since May 2nd, 2011
PREVIOUS JOBS
- In Québec
- Secondary level teacher of history and geography at the Pointe de l’île school commission.
- In Chile
- Geography and History teacher during 8 years
- Administrative assistant and relationship with citizens for the Deputy Carlos Montes of the Chilean socialist party 1991.
- Director of « la Casa de la Juventud » (Youth House) in the municipality of La Florida, Santiago, Chile. Different cultural and social education projects with youth at social risk 1992.
VOLUNTARY WORK
• Social involvement in Chile
-During Pinochet's dictatorship, Paulina Ayala took part in the non-violence movement for the reconstruction of democracy in her country. Paulina was involved actively with different organizations.
- Paulina Ayala participated in the student movement and in its’ reconstruction. The FECH (Federation of Students of the University of Chile) was recreated. As president of the social committee, she was successful in aiding students in need that struggled to feed themselves and to make it to class.
-During the dictatorship
1982-1986 - She became president of the Council of the San Vicente de Paul parish (Vicaria of zona Oriente) in Santiago de Chile. Her work prioritized the awareness of the value of DDHH in society.
1982-1987- Active member of the Vicaria de la Pastoral Universitaria VPU. Her work was fundamentally with political prisoners detained in torture centers as well as in common prisons.
1983-1984- President of the Committee of Social Services in the History and Geography Student Council, a democratic organization created by students during the dictatorship at their own risk. Because of it, some members were imprisoned and expelled from the country.
1982-1989- She involved herself in different organizations with the goal of re-establishing the neighbour associations, the formation of citizens who defend free and democratic elections, and the « NO to Pinochet » campaign. For that purpose, she became responsible of a voting office to assure a democratic election with no fraud.
Responsible for a voting office as representative of the opposition. To be responsible for a voting office, it was necessary to have an allegiance to a party. She therefore became a member of the party created for this cause (PPD)
-During the period of transition into democracy
Active member of the Consejo Ecologico Comunal (City Ecologic Board) with weekly participation.
-Founding member of the Centro Cultural La Barraca (La Barraca Cultural Center) to make art and artistic creation more accessible to citizens. Member of the administrative cabinet.
• Social Involvement in Montreal
-Sporadic participation in the administrative cabinet of the popular education workshops of the Plateau and Carrefour des petits soleils.
FORMATION
-One year of law at the Catholic University of Valparaiso (1981)
-Study of pedagogy in history and geography. Baccaulerate in secondary teaching
-Certificate of written French for non-francophones UQAM.
-Certificate of intercultural education UQAM
-Pending: Masters in History UQAM.
Place of Residence
She has lived in Montreal since 1995. She lives in the Nouveau Rosemont neighbourhood of the city.
Account of her interest for politics
Since age 10, she has been interested in politics. In her family it was the main topic of conversation. Since 1980, her involvement has been more active. Pinochet held his first referendum in 1980 to impose his political constitution and following that, her brother was detained and tortured for his opposition to the dictator. Since this incident, she increased her participation in different organisms in the defense of human rights.
