The British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) echoes the concerns raised today by the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) regarding speculation of a snap provincial election and joins UBCM in urging that distinct election periods for local and provincial contests be preserved.
The formal campaign period for the October 17, 2026, local government election, which includes the election of school trustees across the province, begins September 19, 2026. A provincial election call overlapping this period risks drowning out local campaigns at the exact moment voters need to be paying attention to them.
“School trustees are among the most important elected officials in this province,” said Tracy Loffler, BCSTA President. “They are the elected voice of local communities in public education, responsible for decisions that shape the daily experience of more than 550,000 students. British Columbians deserve a campaign period where they can focus fully on getting to know these candidates and the vision each brings for their local schools.”
With over 700 candidates running for school trustee across British Columbia this fall, it’s essential that they have the opportunity to share their vision for public education with their communities, without being crowded out by a provincial campaign.
BCSTA represents over 400 elected trustees across 60 boards of education in B.C. The province’s statutory election cycle was designed to keep local and provincial elections separate so voters can give each their proper attention. The BCSTA joins UBCM in calling on all provincial parties to respect this principle and ensure that any provincial election, whenever called, does not compromise British Columbians’ ability to fully participate in choosing their local government representatives.