[Vancouver, BC – December 3, 2025] – The British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) hosted its premier professional development event, the BCSTA Trustee Academy 2025, from November 27-29 at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver. The three-day event brought together school trustees from across the province to strengthen their capacity as locally elected leaders who serve more than 550,000 students in BC’s public education system.
School trustees play a vital role in British Columbia’s education landscape, serving as the local and democratic voice of their communities in public education governance. Elected by their community, trustees represent local priorities and values while working in a co-governance partnership with the provincial government to ensure every student has access to quality public education. Through their governance work, trustees lead their local school district by setting policy and strategic direction, all with the primary goal of improving student outcomes.
“School trustees are essential to the health of our public education system,” said Tracy Loffler, President of the BCSTA. “As the only locally elected officials solely focused on education, trustees ensure that the voices of parents, students, and communities are heard in decisions that affect BC schools. The BCSTA Trustee Academy creates public education champions by providing trustees with the professional learning opportunities they need to serve and lead their communities effectively.”
The event featured a robust program designed to enhance trustees’ knowledge and skills across key governance areas and welcomed two key provincial ministers, the Honourable Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care, and the Honourable Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. The Ministers emphasized the importance of the co-governance partnership between the provincial government, BCSTA and locally elected school boards in delivering quality public education.
Throughout the three-day event, delegates participated in a keynote presentation facilitated by Senator Farah Mohamed, Senate of Canada, on investing in young people and cultivating the next generation of leaders, a message that resonates deeply with BCSTA’s work in education. Senator Mohamed brought an extraordinary perspective on youth leadership and the important role school trustees play in youth development. She stated that trustees’ decisions have a profound impact on shaping the future of young people and that “Education is the anchor for youth. Trustees are the architects of possibility.”
Delegates also participated in a plenary session on ethics in board governance led by Lisa Southern, former Integrity Commissioner for the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Park Board, and Founding Partner of Southern Butler Price. Lisa led trustees through essential guidance on ethical governance and maintaining the highest standards of public service for school trustees. Digging into her tool kit from years of supporting school districts and her unique background as an Integrity Commissioner for elected officials, Lisa canvassed the current law where the ethics of trustees are questioned.
Delegates also had the opportunity to participate in various concurrent workshops covering critical topics in education governance, Indigenous education, legal and emerging issues, and human rights and equity. As part of the workshops, BCSTA soft-launched new courses from its Trustee Learning Program, a comprehensive redesign of the association’s professional development offerings. The program features 12 foundational courses designed to equip trustees with essential governance knowledge and skills to excel in their elected roles.
By investing in trustee professional development, BCSTA strengthens local school boards’ capacity to serve their communities and advance student success across British Columbia.
For more information on our event, visit the online agenda: https://bcsta.org/trustee-academy/
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About BCSTA
The British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) represents and supports the boards of education that govern British Columbia’s public schools, serving over 550,000 students. BCSTA supports over 400 trustees through professional development, legal counsel, and communications, while acting as the strong, unified voice for boards in advocating to government, education partners, and the public on matters affecting public education.
Media Contact:
Monique Atwal
Manager of Advocacy and Public Relations
Email: matwal@bcsta.org
Phone: 604-842-1167