2026 School Trustee Elections

The next General Local Election for School Trustees of the Board of Education of School District No. 70 (Pacific Rim) will be held on 
October 17, 2026. School Trustees are elected for a four-year term with elections occurring at the same time as the Municipal election.  

All information including requirements, deadlines and notices can be found on the ACRD's website 2026 General Local Election. 

The 2026 School Trustee election will be administered by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD). The regional district’s Chief Elections Officer, Cynthia Dick, and Deputy Chief Election Officer, Heather Zenner, serve as election officers for the school district election. The ACRD is responsible for the official election process — including candidate nominations, voting opportunities, and election results.

Are you, or is someone you know, interested in serving their community as a B.C. School Trustee? Watch this video provided by the British Columbia School Trustees Association, to hear from school trustees from throughout the province about their experience as local leaders on Boards of Education in advance of the upcoming elections in October.


Learn more in the topic areas on this page. 

School District No. 70 (Pacific Rim) Overview

The Pacific Rim School District covers much of Central Vancouver Island’s rugged, picturesque West Coast and serves a regional population of approximately 31,000 residing in the communities of Port Alberni, Tofino, Ucluelet, Bamfield and other remote communities. Located on the ḥaḥuułi of the c̓išaaʔatḥ and Huupač̓asʔatḥ First Nations, the school district also operates schools on the ḥaḥuułi of ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ, huuʕiiʔatḥ and yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government and acknowledges that we work alongside all nuučaan̓uł Nations as well as the Métis Nation of British Columbia to serve the children and youth of the Alberni-Clayoquot region.

The district is home to 4000 students, 36% of whom are of Indigenous Ancestry, in two neighbourhood secondary schools, eight elementary schools, and one K-12 school. The district has a successful alternate learning centre, a strong French Immersion program, a thriving international student program, and a busy continuing education program. The district is committed to all student successes and has strong connections to Early Learning and Community Wellness and Mental Health support, as well as the region’s two major post-secondary institutions. The school district employs over 500 employees, including teachers, support staff and administrators. 

The mandate of the Board of Education is to maintain a focus on student achievement and well-being, and to participate in decision making that benefits the entire district while representing the interests of the entire electorate. Our vision is to be a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning community that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, accessible, and collaborative, and creates belonging and opportunities for all. Our overall intent is to educate students in safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environments where every student develops the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be lifelong learners and responsible members of our global society. Learn more in our 2023/24 - 2027/28 Strategic Plan.

Role of a School Trustee

School trustees are locally elected officials who govern the public education system in their district. Trustees are responsible and accountable to: 

Set strategic direction: Develop and oversee the district's strategic plan, ensuring it aligns with community values and student needs.
Establish policies: Create policies that guide and support the strategic vision of the district.
Approve budgets: Allocate resources effectively to support student learning and district priorities.
Hire the Superintendent: Select the Superintendent, who manages daily operations of the school district.
Engage with the community: Represent the public's interests in education and communicate decisions transparently.

Trustees focus on governance and strategic oversight, not the daily management of schools. It is important for trustees to understand the difference between governance and administration. The School Act assigns specific responsibilities to the Board of Education, the Superintendent and the Secretary-Treasurer. In the vast majority of districts the Superintendent is the only employee who reports directly to the Board. Trustees are part of a team, meaning that individual trustees have no legal authority, only the Board as a whole holds power. 

Based on BCSTA’s recent survey findings (2025), trustees report spending an average of about 15 hours per week on trustee responsibilities. This time includes preparing for and attending board and committee meetings, representing the Board at community events, and responding to community questions and concerns. For a calendar of Board/Committee Meeting in the 2025/26 school year, please visit our Board and Committee Meetings webpage. While the monthly time commitment can vary depending on the district and the season, many trustees find the role deeply rewarding—offering a meaningful opportunity to help shape public education and support student success in their community. 

Trustee Positions

The Board of Education seats are distributed as follows:

Six Trustees are elected for the City of Port Alberni and Electoral Areas, which include:

• "A" (Bamfield),
• "B" (Beaufort),
• "D" (Sproat Lake),
• "E" (Beaver Creek), and
• "F" (Cherry Creek).

One Trustee is elected for the West Coast, which includes:   

• District of Tofino,
• District of Ucluelet, and
• Electoral Area "C" (Long Beach).

Qualifications for Office

A person is qualified to be nominated, elected, and to hold office as a School Trustee if they meet the following criteria:

• Canadian citizen;
• 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
• Resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day nomination papers are filed; and
• Not disqualified under the School Act or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office as a trustee, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Key Election Dates - 2026

Disclaimer: Candidates should refer to ACRD's 2026 General Local Election page for more authoritative requirements/notices.

Notices and Information

In accordance with the Local Government Act's prescribed timelines, School District No. 70 (Pacific Rim) will share links to ACRD's notices and information here, including:

• Nomination Package information
• Notice of Nominations
• 2026 Trustee Election Candidates
• Declaration of Elections by Voting or Acclamation
• Notice of Elections by Voting
• Voting Locations
  
  

Questions?