School District 50 (Haida Gwaii) is inviting public feedback on its proposed Trustee Election Bylaw, which sets out the rules and procedures for running school board elections across the islands.
The draft Bylaw No. 1-2025, given first reading on June 17, outlines requirements for both general elections and by-elections. It covers advance voting opportunities, the order of candidates on the ballot, special voting provisions for remote communities, and the use of the provincial voters list.
Under the proposed bylaw, the provincial list of voters will serve as the register of resident electors. Candidate names on the ballot will be determined by lot to ensure a randomized order. In the event of a tie vote following a judicial recount, the winner will also be decided by lot in line with provincial legislation.
The bylaw includes special voting opportunities aimed at improving access for residents in remote areas. For example, voters living in Kumdis Island and Sewall in Electoral Area 2 (North) will be able to vote at the Port Clements polling station during a designated advance voting opportunity.
Five electoral areas
Trustee elections in School District 50 cover five areas:
Area 1: Old Massett, including G̱aw Tlagée and Tlaga G̱awtláas
Area 2: North, including the Village of Masset and Taaw Tladáaw
Area 3: Central, including Port Clements, Tllaal and Lawn Hill
Area 4: HlGaagilda
Area 5: South, including Daajing Giids, Miller Creek and Gwaii Haanas
Each area will elect one trustee to the Board of Education.
The bylaw sets a mandatory advance voting day on the tenth day before general voting day, with additional advance opportunities if local government elections are being held at the same time. If no local government election is held, a second advance voting day will take place on the third day before general voting day.
The Chief Election Officer will be authorized to establish additional advance and general voting opportunities as needed to improve voter access.
To increase transparency, nomination documents for trustee candidates will be posted on the School District 50 website for at least 30 days after the election results are declared. The bylaw also allows, but does not require, these documents to be shared on local government websites.
Trustee candidates’ campaign financing disclosure statements will be available for public inspection at the district’s head office and online for five years after the election, in line with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act.
The bylaw requires the appointment of a Chief Election Officer by March 1 of an election year. In the case of a by-election, an officer must be appointed in time to meet all legal requirements.
If adopted, the new Bylaw No. 1-2025 will repeal the district’s existing Trustee Elections Bylaw No. 3.1, which was adopted in May 2022.
School District 50 is encouraging residents to review the proposed bylaw and provide feedback before Sept. 9, 2025.
The full text of the bylaw is available through School District 50.
