Have you ever wondered… About the role and duties of an elected School Trustee? ......
Now is your chance to find out!
Cariboo-Chilcotin SD#27 Board of Education Trustee Elections are taking place
October 17, 2026.
Please join CCSD#27 Staff to receive information and ask questions about being a School Board Trustee.
INFORMATION SESSION will be held in person at the Cariboo-Chilcotin School District
Board Office 350 North 2nd Avenue Williams Lake, BC V2G 1Z9
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
School trustee elections are held every four years as part of BC's general local elections. In Cariboo-Chilcotin School District 27, seven trustees will be elected to serve a four-year term from 2026 to 2030.
Trustees are elected from seven electoral areas:
TRUSTEE ELECTORAL AREA (TEA) | TRUSTEE ELECTORAL AREA DESCRIPTION: |
NO. OF TRUSTEES |
1 | Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area H (as that electoral area was defined in the BC Gazette dated February 19, 1981) and parts of Electoral Areas G & L (as those electoral areas were defined in the BC Gazette dated June 17, 1982). | One (1) |
2 | Parts of Cariboo Regional District Electoral Areas G and L surrounding Green Lake, and Thompson Nicola Regional District Area E to 70 Mile, conforming with the southern boundaries of SD27 | One (1) |
3 | The District of 100 Mile House | One (1) |
4 | Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area F (as that electoral area is defined in the BC Gazette dated June 17, 1982), and part of Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area D. | One (1) |
5 | Cariboo Regional District Area E (as that electoral area is defined in the BC Gazette dated February 19, 1981) and part of Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area D (as that electoral area is defined in the BC Gazette dated June 17, 1982) | One (1) |
6 | The City of Williams Lake | One (1) |
7 | Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area J (as that electoral area is defined in the BC Gazette dated February 19, 1981) and part of Cariboo Regional District Trustee Electoral Area K (as that electoral area is defined in the BC Gazette dated February 19, 1981). | One (1) |
Key School Trustee Election 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.
Beyond Board Meetings
Being a school trustee includes work beyond local board meetings. Trustees are expected to sit on district committees, take part in provincial governance and professional learning activities. This can include:
- Provincial orientation and training, such as the BCSTA Trustee Academy in November following the election.
- Governance and advocacy meetings, including BCSTA Provincial Council (typically in February) and Annual General Meeting (typically in April).
- Additional learning and regional meetings as part of the trustee role. (Some of these commitments require travel and multi-day attendance).
Running for School Trustee
Nomination Process
Candidates must submit a completed nomination package during the nomination period. (Will be made available August 2026)
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 27
- Board of Education Governance Policies
- District Plan for Learner Success Plan 2024-2027
- Budgets & Financial Information
- School Calendars
- Enhancing Student Learning Report
- Success Stories in our Key Focus Areas
- SD27 2026 -2027 Public Board Meeting Schedule (TBD)
About Being a Trustee
- BC School Trustees Association
- The Role of Boards of Education and Trustees in BC
- BC School Trustee Candidates Guide
- Trustee Knowledge Series
- School Trustee Election Procedures
All School Board Trustee election questions can be directed to email: Trusteeelections@sd27.bc.ca
Municipal Elections Information
City of Williams Lake Municipal Elections