Are you interested in public education? Do you enjoy serving your community?
If you have a desire to help govern a public school district, you might want to consider running in the election for School Trustee.
The next election is on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, where voters in BC will elect not only trustees but also mayors, councillors, and area directors for four-year terms on school boards, municipal councils, regional district boards and other public organizations.

Local school trustee elections allow the community an important opportunity to lead and oversee our valuable investment in public education. Trustees are hardworking community members who come together in the context of a Board in support of student success. The work is demanding, but important and rewarding.
SD83 offered a session for prospective trustees interested in running in the upcoming election on June 28 at 6 p.m. at the District Education Support Centre (DESC), located at 341 Shuswap St. SW, Salmon Arm.
This session was aimed at giving those interested in running a look at the roles and responsibilities of being a school board trustee. It was led by SD83 Superintendent of Schools Donna Kriger and Secretary Treasurer Dale Culler with supporting information from the B.C. School Trustees’ Association and district staff. The presentation can be viewed below and the link to the recording is below the presentation.
TRUSTEE-CANDIDATE-INFORMATION-SESSION-June-28-2022Recording of Information Session for Prospective Trustees
2022 General Local Election – Key Dates
School trustees are the members of the school district’s Board of Education. They are locally-elected representatives of the public and they are the community’s advocates for public education in their local school district. They are required to carry out their responsibilities in a manner that assists the board in fulfilling its duties under the School Act.
A trustee’s role is to maintain a focus on student achievement and well-being, and to participate in making decisions that benefit the entire district while representing the interests of their community. School trustees sit on a board of education to govern a local school district through strategic planning, policy setting to support the strategic plan, and monitor student progress throughout their term. They represent the communities within the school district by acting as a collective interface between the public and school district management. Trustees operate at a governance level to ensure that the management of facilities and the educational requirements of students are provided in a progressive and educationally sound manner.
More information can be found on the British Columbia School Trustees Association's (BCSTA) website as well as in their Guide for School Trustee Candidates.
In early August, School Trustee Candidate Nomination packages will be available online, at the District Education Resource Centre in Salmon Arm, or at the other Local Government locations listed on the Notice of Nomination.
School Trustee Candidate Nomination package
Nomination Period
The nomination period for candidates to submit nomination papers to local election officers begins at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, and ends at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 9. Candidates may only be nominated during this time period.
Originals of faxed or emailed nomination documents must be received by the Chief Election Officer by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2022.
*Please note, those interested in being nominated for School Trustee require a minimum of two resident electors to support your nomination.*
Candidate Eligibility
To be eligible to run for School Trustee in a general school election or a by-election, a person must have been a resident of B.C. at least six months before filing their nomination documents. They do not have to live or own property in the area where they are running for office.
In addition, a person must:
- Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
- Be a Canadian citizen;
- Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before filing nomination documents;
- Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, the School Act, or any other enactment from voting in an election in British Columbia or from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office, or be otherwise disqualified by law.
In compliance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, candidates are required to submit their financial disclosure documents to Elections BC for verification and publication. Campaign Financing Disclosure Statements can be viewed online at Elections BC, when available.
School District No. 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap) is served by five trustees. Trustee Electoral Areas (TEAs) are:
- TEA 1 - Armstrong/Spallumcheen/Falkland/Silver Creek/Ranchero - 1 seat
- TEA 2 - Enderby/Mabel Lake/Grindrod/Mara/Sicamous/Malakwa - 1 seat
- TEA 3 - South Shuswap/North Shuswap/Sorrento/Blind Bay - 1 seat
- TEA 4 - Salmon Arm - 2 seats
British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) - A Guide for School Trustee Candidates
Province of BC
General Local Elections Information
Candidates Guide to Local Elections
The Basics of General Local Elections
The Role of Local Elected Officials
Being an Effective Elected Official
School Trustee Election Procedures
General Local Elections Calendar
BC Ministry of Education and Child Care
Local Elections Campaign Financing
Local Government Elections Information
Questions?
Please direct all questions regarding Trustee Elections for School District No. 83 to the Secretary Treasurer’s office to Executive Assistant Veronica Deacon at vdeacon@sd83.bc.ca or call (250) 804-7830.