A third contender is now in the race for a Coquitlam school board seat.
Dana Ebtekar told the Tri-City News he’s running in the Feb. 22 byelection to fill the position on the School District 43 (SD43) board of education vacated by Coquitlam trustee Jennifer Blatherwick.
Last October, Blatherwick was elected as the MLA for Coquitlam–Maillardville to replace Independent MLA Selina Robinson, who did not seek re-election.
A Coquitlam resident, Ebtekar has lived in the Tri-Cities for most of his life and currently teaches high school science in the Surrey School District.
For the past two years, he has been the SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) lead at his school and is the track and field coordinator for the Surrey Secondary School Athletics Association.
Previously, Ebtekar was a special education teacher at Surrey elementary and high schools.
A member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Ebtekar also works in the cadet program and is the co-founder of the nonprofit Theatrical Arts Education Association of Canada.
“As someone who immigrated to Canada at around the age of two, I have spent my life receiving countless opportunities in Canada, specifically in the Lower Mainland, that I would not have had access to in Iran,” he told the Tri-City News.
“As a result, I feel a strong desire to give back to the community that has provided me with so much. I believe the best way to do that is by ensuring that our youth have everything they need to succeed, and that everyone has access to a high-quality education.”
Ebtekar said he’s running for a Coquitlam trustee spot to advocate for more teachers and education assistants.
“By addressing these two areas, I believe we can help foster a more inclusive classroom, attract more professionals to come to the Coquitlam School District and, as a result, see our students achieve even more,” he said.
In the byelection, Ebtekar faces at least two challengers: union leader Candace Knoll, endorsed by Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West; and Rosey Manhas, the SD43 DPAC chairperson backed by Blatherwick.
The Feb. 22, 2025, vote is being run by the City of Coquitlam, which will be reimbursed by SD43. The cost of the byelection is budgeted at $350,000.
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