School Board Candidates take the stage in Teachers’ Association forum at Beban Park

Voters have a chance to hear from school board trustee candidates in person this week.

The Nanaimo District Teacher’s Association (NDTA) is organizing a forum to let the community meet potential trustees ahead of this month’s local elections.

Along with the elections for mayor and council, voters will pick nine trustees for Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (SD-68) from 11 candidates on the ballot. This upcoming Thursday, October 8th, the NDTA is giving school board candidates the chance to talk with the community at a forum at the Beban Park Social Centre. The event will get started at 6 p.m.

The School Board Candidates forum, hosted by the NDTA, will kick off tomorrow, Thursday, October 8th at 6 p.m at the Beban Park Social Centre. (Photo by Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM)

Megan Simmer, local president of the teacher’s association, spoke about the forum.

“It's a chance to find out what's important to our trustee candidates, and to find out a little bit more about why they are running. It will also be folks' opportunity to hear how these folks hold up under a series of questions selected by the local teachers' union.”

Simmer explained the association has organized trustee candidate events for the past three election cycles. Candidates will respond to questions selected by the teachers’ union.

“We are incredibly dedicated and passionate educators, and we want trustees who are gonna be focused on the health, safety, well-being, and education of children and young people in this district, and also the teachers who are doing that frontline work of looking after and educating young people in this district.”

Simmer identified inclusive and safe schools as a key issue, including ensuring racialized, Indigenous and LGBTQIA2S+ students, staff and families feel welcome. She also noted the condition of the Nanaimo District Secondary School building was also a topic of interest as the aging building needed attention.

She believed seeing candidates answer questions in person will give voters another way to evaluate them beyond their written platforms, by seeing how they respond in the moment.

Simmer said municipal election turnout can be low historically, and voters are often more focused on mayor and council races. She explains the importance of the school board trustee race and asks voters to be thoughtful with their ballots this coming election season.

“We all have to live in the future, which is when those kids who are coming through the education system right now are going to be adults out there in the world, working with all of us, right?,” said Simmer. “It's really important that people do continue to look all the way down the ballot and cast those votes because these are folks who are, determining policy for the school district”

The School Board Candidates forum will kick off tomorrow, Thursday, October 8th at 6 p.m at the Beban Park Social Centre.

Advance Voting is available October 7th and October 14th from 8 a.m to 8 p.m at Beban Park. General Voting Day is October 17th.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

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