School Trustee By-Election 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY given to the electors of School District No. 47 (qathet) that an election by voting is necessary to elect one Trustee for the remainder of the four-year term ending November 2026 and that the persons nominated as candidates and for whom votes will be received are.

TRUSTEE – Vote for not more than one – One [1] to be elected

Surname	Usual Name	Residential Address or Jurisdiction
CHARTIER	Guy	Powell River, BC
CONTI	Gretchen	Powell River, BC

VOTING DATES AND LOCATIONS

GENERAL VOTING will be open to qualified electors of School District No. 47 (qathet) on Saturday, April 12, 2025 between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm at the School Board Office (Board Room), 4351 Ontario Avenue, Powell River, BC.

ADVANCE VOTING will be open to qualified electors of School District No. 47 (qathet) on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 and Wednesday, April 9, 2025 between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm at the School Board Office (Board Room), 4351 Ontario Avenue, Powell River, BC.

ELECTOR REGISTRATION

There is no need to pre-register to vote as the registration for all qualified electors will take place at the time of voting. To register at the time of voting you must meet the following qualifications:

be 18 years of age or older on general voting day, April 12, 2025; and,
a Canadian citizen [landed immigrants, permanent residents and corporations are not eligible]; and,
a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration [at time of voting]; and,
a resident of the School District No. 47 (qathet) boundaries the day of registration; and,
not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election and not otherwise disqualified by law.

To register, resident electors must produce two [2] pieces of identification [at least one must have your signature] to prove who you are and where you live. Picture identification IS NOT necessary.

NON-RESIDENT ELECTORS

To register as a Non-resident Property Elector you must:

be 18 years of age or older on general voting day, April 12, 2025; and,
a Canadian citizen [landed immigrants, permanent residents and corporations are not eligible]; and,
a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration [at time of voting]; and,
a registered owner of real property within School District No. 47 (qathet) boundaries for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration; and,
not be entitled to register as a Resident Elector in the School District No. 47 (qathet); and,
not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election and not otherwise disqualified by law.

In addition, for Non-resident Property Electors:

the only persons who are registered owners of the property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust.
if more than one person is registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a Non-resident Property Elector.

Non-resident Property Electors must produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity, and must also bring evidence that you are entitled to register in relation to the property, including:

proof of ownership of the property (a recent Title Search); and
written consent (form available from the School Board office) signed by a majority of all the owners, if there are multiple owners of the property, stating that you are the one owner who is designated as the Non-resident Property Elector for that property.

You may only register as a Non-resident Property Elector in relation to one piece of property regardless of how many properties you own in the School District No. 47 (qathet) area. If you own property with a corporation, none of the owners of the property are eligible to vote.

VOTING BY MAIL is available for qualified electors of School District No. 47 (qathet). If you wish to vote by mail, please visit https://www.sd47.bc.ca/page/8025/mail-ballot-voting or visit the School Board office to obtain an application to receive a mail ballot package. It is your responsibility to ensure that your completed ballot is delivered to the Chief Election Officer no later than 8:00 pm on General Voting Day, Saturday, April 12, 2025 to be counted.

For further information on the by-election process, please visit info@SD47.bc.ca or contact:
Twyla Slonski, Chief Election Officer info@SD47.bc.ca
Steve Hopkins, Deputy Chief Election Officer steve.hopkins@SD47.bc.ca

For further information on campaign period expense limits and third-party advertising limits, please contact Elections BC:

Toll free phone: 1.800.661.8683
Email: electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca
Website: www.elections.bc.ca

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Information on Voting Opportunities

Mail Ballot Voting - Request an Application Form

Advance Voting Opportunities - April 2 and April 9, 2025

General Voting Day - April 12, 2025

Declarations and Notices

Declaration of Election by Voting - Posted Monday, March 17

Declaration of Candidates - Posted Friday, March 7 following the close of nomination period

Notice of Nomination Period

Nomination Period

For a term ending October 2026, nominations for candidates will be received by the chief election officer or deputy chief election officer as follows:

WHEN: 9:00 am, February 25, 2025 to 4:00 pm, March 7, 2025
WHERE: School Board Office | 4351 Ontario Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 1V3
HOW: Nomination documents may be delivered by hand, by mail or by other delivery service, or by fax or email, with originals to follow. The deadline for receiving originals of nomination documents is 4:30 pm, March 14, 2025.

The School Trustee Nomination Package is now available here and the period will close March 7, 2025 at 4:00 pm.

Nomination documents are available online and at the School Board office, 4351 Ontario Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 1V3 during regular office hours (8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays and weekends).

Candidates should call 604.414.2600 to make an appointment with the Deputy Chief Election Officer to submit your nomination papers.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE:

Canadian citizen; 18 years of age or older on general voting day April 12, 2025
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 voting in an election in British Columbia or being nominated for, being elected to or holding office as a trustee, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Click here to download the published newspaper ad.

About Being a School Trustee

Download this Guide for School Trustee Candidates by BCSTA.

qathet School District's Policy 3 - Role of the Trustee

qathet School District's Policy 7 - Appendix - Trustee Election Bylaw

For the complete list of qathet School District Board Policies, click here.

Election Resources

Candidate's Guide to Local Elections in BC (Ministry of Municipal Affairs)

Elector Organization Guide to Local Elections in BC (Ministry of Municipal Affairs)

Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in BC for Candidates and Their Financial Agents (Elections BC)

Local Government Act

Local Elections Campaign Financing Act