CSF School Board Elections 2022: Why it’s Important to Vote

The next school board elections for the Conseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B. (CSF) will take place in October 2022, at the same time as the elections for the province’s other school districts.

The election will be for the seven Trustees who will form the CSF’s next Board of Trustees. They will serve for a four-year term.

 

Why vote in the Francophone school board (CSF) elections?

These elections are an important opportunity to have our voices heard regarding the CSF’s direction for the next four years. The Trustees form the CSF’s ultimate decision-making body, playing a decisive role in the organization.

Among other responsibilities, CSF Trustees adopt a budget and develop policies and regulations that relate to the CSF’s mission, values, and objectives. They also establish the structure allowing for senior management and the Secretary-Treasurer to carry out their responsibilities.

Decisions made by these elected representatives have a direct impact on the education of current and future generations of Francophones in our province! (For the complete list of the responsibilities of CSF Trustees, click here.)

 

What’s the real impact of my vote?

It’s often said that every vote counts; this is especially true for CSF school board elections. Here are some statistics related to the last CSF school board elections, held in November 2018:

• Two candidates were elected with a majority of fewer than 20 votes;
• Three of the candidates were elected by acclamation (there was only one candidate in each of these regions);
• In the four regions where there was an election, a total of 951 people exercised their right to vote (683 did so during the previous elections, also held in four of the seven regions).

 

Who can vote in the CSF school board elections?

Not only parents (Francophone or Anglophone parents) of students attending CSF schools can vote, but also parents who are French language rights holders* who have preschool-aged children, as well as citizens who are French language rights holders*, live in BC, and are 18 years old or older.

For the right to vote, they simply need to become a member of the CSF. To learn the criteria for becoming a CSF member and voting in the school board elections, click here.

Anyone wishing to become a CSF member must fill out the form available by clicking here. Once filled out, the form can be sent by email to: adhesion@csf.bc.ca. There are no membership fees associated with becoming a CSF member.

 

Am I already a CSF member?

If you’re already a CSF member you should have received an email on February 22, 2022 to validate your contact information. If you did not receive this email, please advise the CSF at adhesion@csf.bc.ca.

Should you have any questions about whether you’re a CSF member, you can contact Ms. Coralie Mpoyo by phone at 604-214-2636, or email at adhesion@csf.bc.ca.

 

In October 2022, make your voice heard and vote in the CSF school board elections: it's your responsibility!

 

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* French language rights holders can be CSF members, that is any Canadian citizen or immigrant to Canada:

- whose first language learned and still understood is French;
- or who received their education at the primary level in French in Canada (excluding immersion);
- or who has one child who has received or receives their instruction at the primary or secondary level in French in Canada (excluding immersion).