Elections

2026 School Trustee Elections

In BC general local elections for mayor, councilors, electoral area directors and school trustees are held every four (4) years on the third Saturday of October. The next General Local Election is October 17, 2026.

General local elections are a shared responsibility between local governments and Elections BC. Each local government is responsible for running its own general local election and must be run in accordance with the Local Government Act, the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, the Community Charter, the School Act and elections-related bylaws.

The Board of Education of School District No. 57 (Prince George) is comprised of Seven (7) trustees representing the following areas:

Prince George Trustee Electoral Area No 1 – Five (5) to be elected
Mackenzie Trustee Electoral Area No 2 – One (1) to be elected
Robson Valley Trustee Electoral Area No 3 being Electoral Area H of the Regional District of Fraser Fort-George – One (1) to be elected

Notices

Notice of Nomination

Declaration of Candidates

2026 Declaration of Candidates

Declaration of Election by Voting

Voter Information

Voter Eligibility

Residents of Prince George, District of Mackenzie, Village of McBride and Village of Valemount

You are eligible to vote for school trustee if you:

Are 18 years of age or older when you register to vote, or will be 18 or older on general voting day.
Are a Canadian citizen.
Have lived in British Columbia for at least six months before you register to vote (must have lived in BC since April 16, 2026).
Currently reside in the City of Prince George, District of Mackenzie, Village of McBride, Village of Valemount
Are not disqualified from voting under the Local Government Act or any other law or bylaw

Non-Residents of Prince George, District of Mackenzie, Village of McBride, and Village of Valemount

You are eligible to vote for school trustee as a non-resident property elector if you:

Are not entitled to register as a resident elector of the City of Prince George, the District of Mackenzie, the Village of McBride or the Village of Valemount
Are 18 years of age or older when you register to vote, or will be 18 or older on general voting day.
Are a Canadian Citizen.
Have lived in British Columbia for a least six months before you register to vote (must have lived in BC since April 16, 2026).
Have been a registered owner of property in the City of Prince George, District of Mackenzie, Village of McBride or Village of Valemount for at least 30 days before you register to vote (must have owned property since September 16, 2026).
Are not disqualified from voting under the Local Government Act or any other law or bylaw.

Non-resident property electors must complete a Non-Resident Property Elector Registration Form, which is available at advance and general voting day locations.

If a property has more than one registered owner, only one owner may vote.

A majority of registered owners (50% plus one) must sign a Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form to authorize one owner to vote on behalf of the property.

The Consent Form is available at advance and general voting day locations. The authorized owners must bring the completed consent form, proof of property ownership, and acceptable identification to the Presiding Election Official at the voting place.

How to Vote

Follow the steps below to learn when and where to vote, what to bring, and what to expect at the voting place.

Who Can Vote and How to Register

You can vote as either a resident elector or a non-resident property elector. Review eligibility requirements above.

The School District No. 57 – School Trustee Electoral Areas uses same-day voter registration. Voters cannot register in advance to vote in the election.

At the time the elector wishes to vote, they must present acceptable identification at the voting station. See “Identification Requirements” for more details.

Identification Requirements

Voters must show two pieces of acceptable identification at the time of voting. Together, the two pieces must show:

Your name;
Your residential address; and
Include your signature.

Examples of acceptable identification include:

B.C. Driver’s License
B.C. Identification Card
B.C. Services Card (counts as one piece of ID when combined with a B.C. Driver’s License)
B.C. Care Card or Gold Care Card (counts as one piece of ID when combined with a BC Driver’s License or Service Card)
Canadian Passport
Credit Card or debit card
Property tax notice
Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
Government-issued military ID
Firearms Possession and Acquisition License
Certificate of Indian Status
Current utility bill with your name and address
I.C.B.C. Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle License
Citizenship or membership cards issued by a B.C. First Nations governing body
Metis Nation BC citizenship card

Any other document accepted by the Chief Election Officer.

If your ID does not show your address:

You may provide two pieces of ID that prove your identity, one of which must include your signature, and then make a solemn declaration of your residential address to the Election Official at the voting place.

When and Where to Vote

Advance voting is open to all eligible voters. You do not need a special reason to vote early.

Prince George Trustee Electoral Area No 1, will have four (4) advance voting days that will take place before general voting day at the Prince George Conference and Civic Center (808 Canada Games Way) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.:

Wednesday, October 7
Thursday, October 8
Wednesday, October 14
Thursday, October 15

Mackenzie Trustee Electoral Area No. 2 will have Two (2) Advance voting opportunities at the District of Mackenzie Office from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. October 7 and 16th and One (1) Special Voting opportunity at the Mackenzie District Hospital & Health Centre from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm on October 16

Robson Valley Trustee Electoral Area No 3 being Electoral Area H of Regional District of Fraser Fort-George will have (will update when confirmed) advance voting days and take place at (will update when confirmed)

General Voting Day

General voting day is Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Locations will be posted once they are confirmed.

Accessibility Information

All voting locations are fully accessible for individuals with mobility challenges and assistive devices.

Candidate Information

Trustee Role and Responsibilities – BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA)

The British Columbia School Trustee Association (BCSTA) provides detailed information about the role and responsibilities of trustees. Please see BCSTA Election Resources

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 October 17, 2026
Resident of British Columbia for at least Six (6) months immediately before the day nomination papers are filed
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. See Elections BC – Candidates

Elections BC – Online Learning found HERE provides valuable information for Candidates, Financial Agents and Elector Organizations to better understand their campaign financing responsibilities, reporting requirements and legislated rules. If you have any questions, please email electionsbc@elections.bc.ca

Key Dates

Election Period: January 1, 2026 – September 18, 2026
Pre-Campaign Period: July 20 – September 18, 2026
Nomination Period (BC wide): September 1 – September 11, 2026
Declaration of Candidates: September 11, 2026
Challenge of Nomination Deadline: September 15, 2026
Candidate Withdrawal Deadline: September 18, 2026
Candidate Endorsement Withdrawal Deadline: September 18, 2026
Campaign Period: September 19, 2026 – October 17, 2026
General Voting Day: October 17, 2026
Disclosure Statement Filing Deadline: January 15, 2027
Late filing deadline for disclosure statements (with $500 fee): February 16, 2027

Candidate Expense Limits

All Candidates have expense limits that apply during the campaign period, please see the limits for School District No. 57 Trustee Electoral Areas that can be found here.

Nomination Process

Individuals wishing to run for School District No. 57 Trustee must submit their nomination documents during the official Nomination Period. Late submissions (after 4:00 p.m. September 11, 2026) will not be accepted.

Nomination documents may be delivered by hand, mail, courier, fax, or email.

To ensure timely review and to support prospective candidates, all in-person nomination submissions must be made by appointment with the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Election Officer. To book an appointment during the Nomination Period, please contact the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Election Officer at 250-561-6800 extension 321

Nomination Package

Nomination Package – Fillable Forms are found here

Nomination Package – PDF versions are found here

Candidate Release of Information is found here

City of Prince George Election and Political Signs Bylaw – The City of Prince George Election and Political Signs Bylaw applies to campaign signage for school trustee candidates. The Map Package showing the 100-metre radius around each voting location. Under section 163(4) of the Local Government Act, campaign signage, election advertising, canvassing, soliciting votes, and other activities intended to influence electors are restricted within this area on voting days.