Yukon School Boards Prepare for Elections with Incumbents Running

The upcoming elections for Yukon’s two school boards, the First Nations School Board (FNSB) and the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon (CSFY), will see a number of incumbents vying for re-election. With the nomination period closing on November 6, 2023, a total of nine candidates are competing for trustee positions in the FNSB, while ten individuals are running for the CSFY.

Polling day is set for November 17, 2023, just two weeks after the territorial elections conclude. Each school board has five trustee positions open for candidates across the Yukon, as outlined by Elections Yukon. The responsibilities of school board trustees include supervising the operation of designated schools and collaborating with the Yukon Department of Education to implement educational programs that address student needs.

FNSB operates 11 schools, whereas CSFY manages four schools. According to official sources, the elections for school board trustees occur every three years, allowing community members to influence educational governance.

Incumbents and New Candidates Emerge

Among the candidates for the FNSB, two incumbents are seeking re-election: Primozic and Tizya-Tramm. The remaining candidates include Melanie Bennett, Katrina Couch, Brad Joe-Malegana, David MacMartin, Dustin McKenzie-Hubbard, Maxine Netro-Fehr, Josie O’Brien, and Mats’äsä̀na Mą.

In the CSFY elections, four incumbents are on the ballot: Blais, Maggiore, Bougie, and Masson Guerette. The other candidates include David Fournier, Céline Godard, Véronique Maggiore, Jessica Masson Guerette, Amélie Morin, Stéphan Poirier, and Ashley Quirke-Tomlins.

For both boards, candidates and voters must be Canadian citizens aged at least 18 years on the polling day. Specific eligibility requirements apply for each board. For the FNSB, candidates and electors must either be members of a Yukon First Nation or parents or guardians of students attending FNSB schools. Additionally, they must have a connection with one of the ancestral languages relevant to the First Nations in Yukon.

The CSFY requires similar eligibility criteria, where candidates and voters must be parents or guardians of students attending CSFY schools or daycare facilities. All candidates must have lived in Yukon for a minimum of three months prior to the election date.

Leadership and Governance

Current leadership within the FNSB includes co-chairs Tizya-Tramm of Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and Gillian Staveley of Liard First Nation, along with trustees representing Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. The CSFY is led by Blais as president, with Maggiore serving as vice president, supported by trustees Bougie, Cooke, and Masson Guérette.

Elections Yukon provides detailed information regarding voting procedures, eligibility, and candidate profiles, making it easier for the community to engage in this important electoral process. As the November 17 polling date approaches, the upcoming elections represent a crucial opportunity for Yukoners to shape the future of education in their communities.