Municipal Election
Municipal Elections will take place every four years.
School board trustees are locally elected representatives of the public, and they are the community’s advocates for public education. They are required to carry out their responsibilities in a manner that assists the board in fulfilling its duties under the Education Act.
A trustee’s role is to maintain a focus on student achievement and well-being and to participate in making decisions that benefit the entire board district while representing the interests of their constituents. Trustees must also communicate the views and decisions of the board back to their constituents.
The Importance of Accurate Catholic Voters Lists
The voice and vote of Catholic ratepayers is important to the future of our Catholic schools. In order to vote for Catholic trustees, our Catholic District School Board ratepayers must be registered as separate school supporters.
To make the process of verifying support easier for voters, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) has created voterlookup.ca.
Through voterlookup.ca, all Ontario residents can check to ensure that their information is accurately reflected on MPAC’s Preliminary List of Electors for the municipal and school board elections.
Visit voterlookup.ca to confirm information and follow the easy steps published on the website to make any necessary updates and corrections. Only separate school supporters can vote for Catholic trustees.
Learn How to become a Catholic School Board Trustee
Visit the Ontario Municipal and School Board Elections and the Ontario Catholic Trustees’ Associations websites to learn how to become a Catholic School Board Trustee.
The following information provides general expectations regarding the role of a Catholic School Board Trustee.
Regular Board meetings are held once per month, on Monday evenings, in the Boardroom of the Catholic Education Centre, 650 Rossland Road West, Oshawa.
Special Board meetings are held at the call of the Chair or at the written request of four trustees or at any time as determined by resolution of the Board.
Policy meetings are held four times per year, on Monday evenings.
In addition to Regular Board meetings, Trustees may be involved in various Statutory Committees, Standing Committees, and Ad Hoc or Other Communities.
Trustees can expect to spend an average of at least three nights a month at Board and committee meetings for most of the year. These meetings last, on average three to four hours.
Trustees may be requested to attend special events throughout the year. These may include school blessings, graduations, system-wide Mass, award ceremonies, Catholic Education Week activities, seminars, and provincial Catholic trustee association meetings.
Trustees may receive telephone calls or emails from their constituents. This is an important part of the trustee role and requires some time commitment.
Trustees will be provided with an orientation session to acquaint them with the role and responsibilities of the Board.
Honoraria for Board Members is established by the Board in accordance with the Education Act and its attendant Regulations.
Honoraria for Board Members (Policy PO 213)
Honoraria for Board Members (Policy PO 213)
For additional information, view the following websites and resources:
- Becoming a Catholic School Trustees
- Catholic Education Brochure
- Catholic Ratepayer Brochure
- Elections Ontario
- Making a Difference: Running for Election as a School Board Trustee – a PDF guide
- Ontario Education Services Corporation
- Ontario Municipal and School Board Elections
- Ontario’s Publicly Funded Catholic Schools
- VoterLookup