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Council Meeting/Documents/Letter to Minister Lisa Beare Re: Support for a Trustee Electoral Area Election Model for SD 61
Correspondence

Letter to Minister Lisa Beare Re: Support for a Trustee Electoral Area Election Model for SD 61

April 1, 2025Pages 484–4852 sections

A letter from Mayor Sid Tobias to the Minister of Education expressing the Town of View Royal's strong support for an electoral area election model.

1 CALL TO ORDER- Mayor Tobias called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Date: March 21, 2025Signatory: Sid Tobias, Mayor

March 21, 2025

Honourable Lisa Beare Minister of Education and Child Care PO Box 9045 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9E2

Via Email: ECC.Minister@gov.bc.ca

Dear Minister Beare,

Page 484–485

Re: Support for a Trustee Electoral Area Election Model for SD 61

On behalf of Council, the Town of View Royal wishes to express its strong support for the Township of Esquimalt’s request for the Ministry of Education and Child Care to consider and approve the implementation of a Trustee Electoral Area election model for School District 61 (Greater Victoria).

We believe that equitable and localized representation is foundational to effective and accountable school governance. The current at-large system fails to adequately reflect the distinct voices and educational priorities of the many unique communities within SD 61, including municipalities such as View Royal, as well as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

In support of this effort, the Town of View Royal urges the Ministry to direct the establishment of an inclusive and collaborative task force—led by SD 61 and including representation from all six member municipalities, as well as the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations. Their inclusion is vital to ensuring that Indigenous perspectives are fully recognized and embedded in the governance of our public education system.

A Trustee Electoral Area model that is fair, geographically representative, and reflective of the diversity of communities in SD 61 will strengthen our shared commitment to equity, reconciliation, and good governance. We respectfully ask that the Ministry consider this change in advance of the 2026 Local Government and School Board Elections.

Sincerely,

Sid Tobias, MSM, CD, MA Mayor

cc:

  • Sherri Bell, Official Trustee, School District No. 61
  • Hon. Darlene Rotchford, MLA Esquimalt-Colwood
  • Hon. Diana Gibson, MLA Oak Bay-Gordon Head
  • Hon. Grace Lore, MLA Victoria-Beacon Hill
  • Hon. Lana Popham, MLA Saanich South
  • Hon. Nina Krieger, MLA Victoria-Swan Lake
  • Esquimalt Nation
  • Township of Esquimalt
  • District of Highlands
  • District of Oak Bay
  • District of Saanich
  • Songhees Nation
  • City of Victoria
Page 484–485

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Extracted from: 2025 04 01 Council Agenda - Agenda - Pdf