Trustee Electoral Area(s)

Trustee Electoral Areas within the Greater Victoria School District

Background

The Greater Victoria School District recognizes the letter dated March 19, 2025 from the Township of Esquimalt requesting the Minister of Education and Child Care (MOECC) to “direct School District 61 to create an inclusive and collaborative task force to consider a Trustee Electoral Area election model for the Minister’s ultimate consideration of approval for implementation in time for the 2026 Local Government/Board of Education elections.” This letter sparked additional letters of support for changes to the trustee electoral areas within the Greater Victoria School District expressed by Esquimalt Nation, Songhees Nation, and most municipalities that lie within the district. These letters are linked near the bottom of this webpage.

Upon receiving direction from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, the Official Trustee formed a Task Force consisting of representatives of the Greater Victoria School District, Esquimalt Nation, Songhees Nation, the municipalities of Esquimalt, Highlands, Oak Bay, Saanich, Victoria, and View Royal, as well as the Capital Regional District. Task Force meetings allowed for respectful democratic discussion that resulted in the below proposed variation to trustee electoral areas which will also be detailed during the September 9 public engagement session.

The collaborative discussions leading up to and including the proposed changes honour the District’s and local government’s commitment to and active participation in truth and reconciliation. The work aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (TRC) final report and its 94 Calls to Action, as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

 

Proposed Model

1. A shift from an ‘at large’ electoral model to a model with seven trustee electoral areas based on municipal and First Nations boundaries—a model that currently exists within most school districts in the province that serve multiple municipalities. The change has the potential to limit disproportionate representation of communities on the Board of Education and allow for more localized and inclusive representation, as well as create stronger relationships between the School Board and local Nations and municipal leaders.

2. There are no proposed changes to the number of trustees, which will remain at nine.

3. A distribution of the nine trustees amongst the seven electoral areas as follows:

    • Esquimalt Nation (1 Trustee)
    • Songhees Nation (1 Trustee)
    • View Royal / Highlands (1 Trustee)
    • Oak Bay (1 Trustee)
    • Esquimalt (1 Trustee)
    • Saanich (2 Trustees)
    • Victoria (2 Trustees)

 

Timeline and Engagement

  • March 19, 2025 –  The Township of Esquimalt requests the Minister of Education and Child Care to “direct School District 61 to create an inclusive and collaborative task force to consider a Trustee Electoral Area election model for the Minister’s ultimate consideration of approval for implementation in time for the 2026 Local Government/Board of Education elections”
  • March – April, 2025 – Additional letters of support for changes to the trustee electoral areas within the Greater Victoria School District are expressed by Esquimalt Nation, Songhees Nation, and most municipalities that lie within the district
  • May – September, 2025 – The Task Force meets to discuss potential changes to the current trustee electoral areas and develop proposed changes for community feedback
  • August 5, 2025 – The Task Force announces upcoming public engagement session on September 9, 2025 to gain feedback on proposed changes
  • August 5, 2025 – Online feedback form opens for those unable to make the public engagement session
  • September 9, 2025 – Public Engagement Session from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at SJ Willis in the gymnasium (923 Topaz Avenue) co-hosted and attended by the Greater Victoria School District, Esquimalt Nation, Songhees Nation, the municipalities of Esquimalt, Highlands, Oak Bay, Saanich, Victoria, and View Royal, as well as the Capital Regional District (CRD).
  • September 11, 2025 – Online feedback form closes for those unable to make the public engagement session on September 9, 2025
  • September 11 – 30, 2025 – Task Force reviews public feedback on proposed changes
  • September 30, 2025 – Proposed changes need to be submitted to the Ministry to allow adequate time for review prior to the next trustee elections in 2026

 

Letters

 

Useful Links

Disclaimer

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