A fourth candidate has formally announced their candidacy for the Coquitlam trustee seat on the School District 43 (SD43) board of education.
And Port Moody resident Nash Milani, a graduate of Port Moody Secondary, contends the Feb. 22 byelection is a good time to vote in someone who is fresh out of the public school system.
In a news release, the recreation clerk with the City of Burnaby said the average age of trustees on Canadian boards of education is 55.
And, if he wins the seat vacated by Jennifer Blatherwick, who last fall was elected as the MLA for Coquitlam–Maillardville, Milani plans to lift the voices of young people in the third largest school district in B.C.
Milani said he “recognizes the profound impact that new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), have on the quality of K-12 education, as they have led to a significant decline in media literacy and reading comprehension.”
As trustee, Milani said he plans to lobby the provincial government to raise the funding-per-student amount to cut class sizes, foster a better learning experience with teachers and help “future-proof education.”
“With disinformation on the rise, it is now more crucial than ever for young people to learn how to discern what is important and understand the significance of quality education in becoming adults capable of navigating today's society,” he wrote in his news release.
Other contenders
Here’s who’s running for elected office (in alphabetical order by surname), including their city of residence and employer(s)/profession:
- Frank Do, Coquitlam
- Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of B.C.
- Dana Ebtekar, Coquitlam
- Surrey School District 36 (teacher)
- Canadian Armed Forces
- Riggit
- IATSE 118
- Candace Knoll, Coquitlam
- retired from Telus
- Rosey Manhas, Coquitlam
- Fraser Health Authority (medical imaging)
- Nash Milani, Port Moody
- City of Burnaby (recreation clerk)
Besides election day on Saturday, Feb. 22, eligible voters can cast their ballots in advance between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on:
- Feb. 12
- Centennial Pavilion (630 Poirier St., Coquitlam)
- Feb. 15
- Pinetree Community Centre (1260 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam)
The Tri-City News will publish the candidates’ profiles, images and campaign videos on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Past byelection stories can be read by clicking on this section of our site.
For more details about the school byelection, visit the City of Coquitlam website.
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