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2026 School Trustee Election

Board of Education, General News
October 17, 2026 School Trustee Elections

The next school trustee election will take place on October 17, 2026.

School trustee elections are held every four years as part of BC's general local elections. In School District 72, seven trustees will be elected to serve a four-year term from 2026 to 2030.

Trustees are elected from three electoral areas:

  • Area 1 - Greater Campbell River: 5 trustees
  • Area 2 - Sayward Valley: 1 trustee
  • Area 3 - Discovery Islands (Quadra, Cortes & Read): 1 trustee

Key Dates

  • Pre-campaign period begins: July 20, 2026
  • Elector organization registration deadline: July 31, 2026
  • Nomination period: September 1 to September 11, 2026
  • Campaign period begins: September 19, 2026
  • General voting day: October 17, 2026
  • Disclosure statement deadline: January 15, 2027
  • Late disclosure deadline: February 16, 2027

What School Trustees Do

School trustees are elected members of the Board of Education. They work together to make decisions that support student success across the district.

The Ministry of Education and Child Care sets the direction for K-12 education, including the curriculum, funding amounts, and the legal framework within which boards operate. Boards are responsible for governing school districts based on the educational aspirations of their local communities and in accordance with the policy direction established by government. 

Trustees:

  • Focus on student achievement and well-being
  • Set local policies for school district governance
  • Approve the school district's operating budgets and capital plans
  • Employ staff and set employment conditions
  • Hear appeals from students and families

Trustees act as a corporate board. Individual trustees do not have decision-making authority on their own and they participate in decision-making that benefits the entire school district and represents the interests of the entire electorate, no matter which electoral area they were elected from.

Running for School Trustee

Nomination Process

Candidates must submit a completed nomination package during the nomination period. 

Deadline: Friday September 11, 2026
Submission: to the Chief Election Officer - TBD

Who Can Run

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen
  • Be 18 years or older on general voting day
  • Have lived in BC for at least six months before nomination day
  • Not be disqualified under the School Act or other legislation

Employees of the Board of Education must take a leave of absence starting on the first day of the nomination period and must resign if elected.

There is no requirement to live within the school district or electoral area. Candidates may only run in one electoral area.

Learn More

About School District 72

About Being a Trustee

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