Trustee Susan Chew was elected by acclamation to her first term as board chair and Trustee Julie Bremner to her second consecutive term as vice-chair at the School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) Board of Education inaugural meeting on November 4. 

“It’s an honour to have the opportunity to serve as chair of the SD8 Board of Education. Our work is about meeting the learning needs of every student and reflecting the values of the communities we serve. I look forward to leading the Board as we make decisions on budgeting, policy, and continue to implement our five-year strategic plan to strengthen K-12 education across SD8,” said Chair Chew.

“Serving as vice-chair is an opportunity to continue to support children, families, and school communities through strong governance and open communication. I look forward to working with our new chair and with all board members as we keep students at the centre of everything we do,” said Vice-Chair Bremner.

Also elected by acclamation were Trustee Murray Shunter who will serve as a provincial councillor for the B.C. School Trustees Association, with Trustee Mary Jane Blackmore as alternate; and Trustee Al Gribbin who will serve as a B.C. Public School Employers’ Association representative, with Chair Susan Chew as alternate. 

The positions of chair and vice-chair, along with external committee roles, are elected annually by the Board. The nine trustees on the SD8 Board of Education are elected every four years during B.C.’s General Local Elections, held on the third Saturday in October. The SD8 Board of Education is entering the fourth year of a four-year term ending on October 17, 2026.

About School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake): Located in the southern Interior of British Columbia, SD8 serves numerous diverse communities in the Kootenays including Crawford Bay, Creston, Kaslo, Meadow Creek, Nelson, Salmo, Slocan, South Slocan, Winlaw, Wynndel, and Yahk. The district also serves students across B.C. through a provincial online learning school, Elev8. Our dedicated team focuses on providing the best possible educational opportunities for over 4,700 students and their families. Our mission is to inspire and support each learner to thrive in a caring learning environment.