AS working people gather across BC to mark Labour Day, the BC Teachers’ Federation is urging voters to make their voices heard in their communities by preparing to vote for school trustees in this October’s local elections.
“Labour Day reminds us of what we can accomplish when we all come together,” said BCTF President Carole Gordon on Monday. “School board elections may not get the attention of races for mayor and council, but the decisions trustees make directly affect students, families, and the future of public education.”
School trustees govern school districts and make decisions that show up in classrooms: how limited funding is spent, which programs and student supports are prioritized, how schools are maintained and upgraded, and whether districts push the province for the funding students need.
The importance of those decisions will be especially clear tomorrow, as students and teachers return for the first day of school. As the 2026 BCTF Membership Survey shows, teachers share common concerns about increasing workloads, complex classrooms, and insufficient supports for students.
“Who sits around the school board table matters,” Gordon said. “We need trustees who listen to the people working and learning in our schools, understand the challenges they face, and will fight for the resources students and teachers need.”
Yet trustee races receive comparatively little public attention, and many voters arrive at the polls knowing little about the candidates—or leave the trustee section of their ballots blank.
As a result, school board races are frequently won by small margins. In 2022, the final trustee seat in Delta was decided by just 153 votes, while nine trustee races across BC were decided by fewer than 20 votes. This includes a Boundary seat won by 10 votes, and a tie on the Central Coast, where the winner was determined by drawing lots.
“Those numbers show that your vote really does matter,” Gordon said. “Strong public schools benefit all of us, whether or not we have children in the system.”
The BCTF is encouraging voters to research local candidates, attend forums, read candidate statements, and consider recommendations from organizations they trust. District labour councils across BC interview and evaluate candidates and make endorsements based on their records and commitments.
“For voters who value strong public services and schools that are well-funded, safe, welcoming, and inclusive, labour council endorsements can be a useful starting point,” Gordon said. “No endorsement should replace your own judgment—but whatever you do, don’t leave the trustee section of your ballot blank.”
