For many years, Julien has been a passionate advocate for Quebec’s English public schools, continuously emphasizing the importance of strong governance, public accountability, and a disciplined focus on serving families. He has consistently defended the independence of Quebec’s constitutionally protected school boards and the role of elected school commissioners. Julien believes that to maintain public trust, the school system must remain directly accountable to the English-speaking community while also embracing its diversity.

In his many roles within the EMSB, Julien has been deeply engaged with the schools his daughter attended, serving as Governing Board Chair of Bancroft School and as a board member of the Royal West Academy Foundation. First elected to the Council of Commissioners on a platform calling for transparency and accountability, Julien has led efforts to ensure open governance practices across the EMSB.

As a committed advocate for bilingualism and French immersion, Julien has played a key role in integrating these educational priorities into schools citywide. He has worked to empower parents in adopting challenging, community-focused curricula that reflect Quebec’s linguistic duality.

Julien is also a leading figure in defending the English public school system against legal threats. He successfully spearheaded a landmark case at the Quebec Court of Appeal, defending the elected roles of school commissioners and ensuring the community’s voice in public education. His efforts earned him the Citizen’s Award from the Ligue d’Action Civique.

Throughout his tenure, Julien has held numerous leadership roles on the EMSB’s Council of Commissioners, chairing key committees such as Finance & Legislation, Human Resources, and Governance & Ethics. As Human Resources Chair, Julien initiated the EMSB’s legal challenge against Bill 21, a controversial law impacting the rights of religious minorities in Quebec. His leadership on this issue led to public hearings and a formal recommendation to challenge the law, which is now before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Julien has also been a vocal proponent of the EMSB’s court challenges against Bill 40 and Bill 96, which respectively threaten the dismantling of English school boards and impose restrictions on the rights of Quebec’s English-speaking community.

During the pandemic, Julien played a critical role in organizing parents across the ward in opposition to government policies that conflicted with public health advice. Alongside EMSB Chair Joe Ortona, he championed measures to protect student and teacher health, such as installing air purifiers in classrooms, in defiance of inadequate government guidelines.

As a board member of the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) and the Task Force on Linguistic Issues, Julien continues to be on the front lines defending English school boards and the broader rights of Quebec’s English-speaking population. His work includes successful challenges against Bill 40, which aimed to eliminate English school boards, and Bill 96, which attacks linguistic rights in education and healthcare.

Julien Feldman remains a steadfast leader in the fight for transparency, bilingualism, and the preservation of English-language education in Quebec. His dedication to these values ensures that the EMSB continues to serve the diverse needs of the community it represents.