The Greater Victoria School District's proposal to shift from an at large' electoral model to a model with seven trustee electoral areas based on existing municipal and First Nations reserve boundaries has been accepted by the Minister of Education and Child Care.
The multiple electoral area model is used by many school districts in the province, especially by those that span several municipalities.
The Official Trustee of SD61 undertook an open and transparent consultation with the public and a Task Force was created to closely consider critical aspects of shifting to trustee electoral areas. The Task Force consisted of representatives from the Greater Victoria School District; Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation; municipalities of Esquimalt, Highlands, Oak Bay, Saanich, Victoria, and View Royal; and the Capital Regional District. The proposal was a result of this work.
"I thank the Task Force for engaging in honest conversations that ultimately led to the Trustee Electoral Area Variation Proposal submitted to the Ministry in late September," says Sherri Bell, Official Trustee, Board of Education, Greater Victoria School District. "I extend my gratitude to the community for their genuine curiosity and thoughtful questions throughout the engagement process. We look forward to updating the community with more information about election logistics, how to become a school trustee, and changes voters can expect."
The Task Force discussions and now-approved changes honour the District's and local governments' commitment to active participation in truth and reconciliation and the importance of working with Indigenous People and Rightsholders to support self-governance. This work aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 Calls to Action, as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The proposal was submitted to the Ministry on September 26, 2025, which requested that, pursuant to Section 30 (4) of the School Act, the Minister consider making a variation order to reflect the proposed changes prior to the next school trustee election to be held on October 17, 2026.
There are no proposed changes to the number of trustees, which will remain at nine and be distributed amongst the electoral areas as follows: Esquimalt Nation (1), Songhees Nation (1), Highlands/View Royal (1), Esquimalt (1), Victoria (2), Saanich (2), and Oak Bay (1).
More information: https://www.sd61.bc.ca/board-of-education/trustee-electoral-areas/
For more information
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Victoria British Columbia
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www.sd61.bc.ca
