Chilliwack Teachers Association share school trustee candidate survey responses
dek
September 17, 2026
*This is the unedited news release from the CTA on this topic – PJH, Sept. 17, 2026
The Chilliwack Teachers’ Association has released the responses to its 2026 School Trustee Candidate Survey, providing teachers and the broader community with an opportunity to learn where candidates stand on key issues affecting public education.
The CTA survey is one of the few public venues in this election where every trustee candidate was given the same questions, the same deadline, the same space, and the same opportunity to communicate directly with educators and voters. There was no selection process nor preferred profile. Every response is being published in full and as submitted, without commentary or interpretation from the CTA.
The survey asked candidates about respectful governance, Indigenous education and reconciliation, safe and inclusive schools, evidence informed decision making, meaningful consultation, education funding, classroom conditions, and their vision for the future of public education.
The CTA acknowledges and appreciates the 12 candidates who engaged thoughtfully in this process. Their willingness to answer substantive questions gives teachers and the wider public valuable information about how they would approach the responsibilities of a School Trustee.
It is disappointing that responses were not received from every candidate. Some candidates, including candidates campaigning together on a shared platform, chose not to use this opportunity to engage directly with teachers.
“Candidates are asking the public to entrust them with the governance of a school district serving thousands of students and employing approximately 1,300 teachers,” said CTA President Reid Clark. “Teachers deserve candidates who are prepared to communicate with the largest employee group in the district. If a candidate is not prepared to engage with educators during an election campaign, it raises legitimate questions about how prepared they will be to listen once elected.”
Participation in the survey was voluntary, but a decision not to respond is also relevant information for teachers and voters to consider. Campaign statements tell the public what candidates choose to emphasize. An open questionnaire gives candidates an equal opportunity to respond directly to questions from the people who work in schools every day. It also shows who is willing to engage with those questions during an election.
Teachers are looking for a Board of Education that:
• listens meaningfully to teachers, support staff, students, families, and Indigenous rights holders;
• respects the professional expertise and lived experience of those working in schools;
• supports safe, inclusive, and welcoming schools for every student and staff member;
• advances Indigenous education and reconciliation through meaningful relationships and action;
• advocates for adequate provincial funding and improved classroom conditions;
• understands the pressures created by overcrowding, staffing shortages, classroom complexity, violence, and educator burnout;
• understands governance, governs transparently, respects collective agreements, and makes decisions based on evidence rather than personal or political agendas; and
• works collaboratively while keeping student success and well being at the centre of every decision.
“Teachers are not asking trustees to agree with us on every issue,” Clark added. “We are asking them to show up, listen seriously, respect educational expertise, and understand what is happening in classrooms. The Board should be a place of responsible governance, not political theatre.”
By creating an equal platform, asking substantive questions, and publishing every response in full, the CTA is serving a broader public interest and helping voters make informed decisions about the future of public education in Chilliwack. The CTA also encourages its members to be informed and actively engaged in local government and local elections.
In previous local elections, the CTA has taken positions and endorsed candidates for the Board of Education. Any position taken by the CTA in the 2026 local election will be directed by its membership through the Association’s democratic processes.
That consultation is now underway. Over the next couple of weeks, CTA members will have an opportunity to carefully review the candidates’ responses and consider which candidates best understand the realities facing public education and most closely reflect the values and priorities of Chilliwack teachers.
The complete candidate responses are available here: https://chilliwackteachers.com/pdf/CTA-TrusteeElection-Survey.pdf
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Paul J. Henderson
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