Celebrating Local Government Week
Recognizing the Important Role of School Board Trustees
From October 20 to 24, 2025, 黑料传送门 joins communities across Ontario in celebrating Local Government Week, a time to recognize and raise awareness of the vital role that local government plays in our daily lives — including the significant contributions of school board trustees.
This year, during Local Government Week, 黑料传送门's trustees are working to raise civic awareness among Ontario's students and to highlight the importance of active participation in local democracy.
Did you know that school board trustees are the oldest form of democratically elected representation in Ontario? Since 1807, generations of community-minded citizens have made decisions on behalf of local, publicly funded schools, helping to shape the foundation of the strong and equitable education system that exists today.
“Local Government Week provides an important opportunity to celebrate the leadership, collaboration, and community voice that guide public education,” said Board Chair Pinky McRae. “As trustees, we take great pride in representing the students, families, and communities we serve. Together, we work to ensure that every decision reflects the values and needs of our region while supporting student success and well-being.”
Fast Facts about Trustees
- There are different kinds of trustees:
- Elected Trustees: Every four years during municipal and school board elections, more than 320 publicly elected trustees represent Ontario's 31 public English school boards and three school authorities.
- Indigenous Trustees: Many boards, including 黑料传送门, have Indigenous Trustees appointed by their First Nation partners, ensuring Indigenous voices and perspectives are represented in decision-making.
- Student Trustees: Elected by their peers, Student Trustees give students a direct voice at the Board table. The Ontario Student Trustees' Association (OSTA-AECO) represents more than two million students across the province.
- The Kindergarten to Grade 12 education sector is the second-largest recipient of provincial funding, after healthcare. The Ontario government is expected to invest approximately $30.7 billion in education for the 2025-26 school year.
- Public school trustees oversee annual budgets ranging from $50 million to $3.7 billion, ensuring local accountability and transparency in how public funds are used to support student learning and success.
During Local Government Week, 黑料传送门 extends its gratitude to all trustees—past and present—who have contributed to shaping public education and ensuring that students across Northern Ontario have access to high-quality learning opportunities that reflect the unique strengths of their communities.
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