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.

Mission and Vision: Our mission is to inspire and support each learner to thrive in a caring learning environment.  

SD8’s vision, values, and strategic goals centre on student success, inclusion, and community engagement. 

The Board of Education’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan sets out the district’s priorities for improving student achievement, well-being, and equity in alignment with provincial mandates (e.g. the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning).

• Annual Budget: Approximately $85 million (for 2025–2026). The school district’s budget allocates resources to support student learning and strategic priorities.
• Students and Schools: SD8 serves about 4,700 students in 23 schools across a large geographic region. These include multiple community elementary schools, several secondary schools, and a number of K-12 schools in smaller communities. The district’s schools are located in the Nelson and Creston areas and the surrounding rural communities SD8 also operates Elev8 (a provincial online learning school) to serve students across B.C.
• Employees: The district employs roughly 900 staff (including teachers, support staff, and administrators) to deliver public education in the region.

SD8-Specific Resources

• Trustee Candidate Guide 2026
• SD8 Strategic Plan
• SD8 Policy Manual
• SD8 Board Governance Framework and Learning Plan

In October 2026, voters in School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) will elect 9 school trustees as part of B.C.’s general local elections. The Board of Education seats are distributed across seven trustee electoral areas:
Trustee Electoral Areas (TEA) within School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) are shown on the Electoral Areas map. 

• TEA 1 - City of Nelson/Bealby Point – 2 Trustees
• TEA 2 - Salmo/Taghum/Blewett – 1 Trustee
• TEA 3 - Slocan Valley/Bonnington – 1 Trustee
• TEA 4 - Crawford Bay/East Shore & North Shore – 1 Trustee
• TEA 5 - South Rural Zone – 2 Trustees (portions of RDCK Area A, B, C south of Kootenay Lake)
• TEA 6 – Town of Creston – 1 Trustee
• TEA 7 - Village of Kaslo & Area D (North Rural Zone) – 1 Trustee 

Note: Municipal authorities conduct trustee elections in the City of Nelson and the Town of Creston, while the school district administers elections in rural zones, in cooperation with the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
 

• Nomination Period: September 1 – 11, 2026 (nominations open 9:00 a.m. Sept 1 and close 4:00 p.m. Sept 11)
• Declaration of Candidates: September 11, 2026 (after 4:00 p.m., list of officially nominated candidates is published)
• Deadline for Challenging Nominations: ~September 15, 2026 (period to challenge a nomination in court)
• Deadline for Candidate Withdrawal: September 18, 2026 (last day for candidates to withdraw, by 4:00 p.m.)
• Campaign Period: September 19 – October 17, 2026 (campaign advertising rules in effect 28 days before General Voting Day)
• Advance Voting Days: October 7, 2026 and October 14, 2026 (at least two advance polls, as required by law)
• General Voting Day: October 17, 2026 (Saturday)
• Official Election Results Declaration: by October 21, 2026 (final results declared by Chief Election Officer)
• Inaugural Board Meeting (Swearing-in): November 2026 (date TBA – newly elected trustees sworn in and begin their term)

All candidates are responsible for meeting these deadlines and should confirm exact dates with the local Chief Election Officer.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general information for prospective candidates and should not be considered legal advice. Candidates should refer to the School Act, local government bylaws, and official elections materials for authoritative requirements.
 

In accordance with the Local Government Act's prescribed timelines, School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) will post notices and information for candidates and voters here, including:

• Notice of Nominations
• 2026 Trustee Election Candidates
• Declaration of Elections by Voting or Acclamation
• Notice of Elections by Voting

Declaration of Election by Acclamation: Pursuant to section 98 of the Local Government Act, the Chief Election Officer of School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) will declare the candidates in the 2026 School Trustee election to be elected by acclamation. 

Nomination documents may be viewed by clicking on the candidate’s name.

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 15, 2026;
• 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.
   

In accordance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, for the 2026 General Local Election, the following expense limits for candidates during the campaign period apply:

• Area 1 School Trustee - $ 6,623.64
• Areas 2 - 7 School Trustee - $  5,398.92

In accordance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, for the 2026 General Local Election the following third party advertising limits apply: 

• Areas 1 – 7 School Trustee - $809.84

Trustees in SD8 receive an annual stipend to compensate for their service. As of the 2024–2025 fiscal year, the base remuneration rates (before expenses) are approximately:

• Trustee: $21,728 per year
• Vice-Chair: $22,213 per year
• Board Chair: $25, 079 per year

These amounts are adjusted each July 1 in accordance with the B.C. Consumer Price Index, per Board policy. For example, a 2.6% CPI increase was applied for 2025–2026. Trustees are also reimbursed for allowable expenses incurred while performing their duties.

School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) Resources

• SD8 Strategic Plan
• SD8 Policy Manual
• SD8 Board Governance Framework and Learning Plan

Important Links

• BC School Trustees Association
• Elections BC
• General Local Elections
• Local Government Act
• Local Election Campaign Financing Act
• School Act

Additional Resources

• BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA) New Guide for School Trustee Election Candidates
• B.C. School Trustees - Putting Students First
• Characteristics of Effective Locally Elected Officials
• Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in BC for Candidates and their Financial Agents 

Contact Information 

Chief Elections Officer: Cathy MacArthur, Secretary-Treasurer of School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake)

811 Stanley Street 
Nelson, BC V1L 1N8 
Phone: 250-352-6681 
Email: elections@sd8.bc.ca