Student Trustee Elections

Complete the application form by December 9, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Please ensure your school principal knows that you are applying. All candidates will be contacted via email to their GAPPs account. The information you share in this application form will be posted to a Google site that students in Grades 5-12 in your area can access.

Applications must include:

• A completed application form (fillable PDF).
• A poster promoting your candidacy created in Google docs or Google slides. The poster should include only student name; Image of student or image representing student; and top three reasons for seeking the role of student trustee
• A completed Google form. You will upload your completed application form and poster in the Google form. 

To ensure a fair and equitable election process for all, we ask that student trustee candidates adhere to the following guidelines:

• We encourage you to direct students in Grades 5-12 to participate in voting by checking their GAPPs email in early January and visiting the election site for their area. On the site, they will find information about candidates and a link to the voting form. 
• We encourage you to limit the use of personal social media to encourage student participation in the election process. As noted above, you can direct students to their GAPPS email in January to learn more about how to vote.
• Visiting or making presentations to students in neighbouring schools is not permitted.

Students will visit the website and vote for the student trustee candidate who will represent their area (Central, East, North or West) on January 13-17, 2025.  Students will receive information in their GAPPS email about how to vote. 

All Student Trustee candidates are expected to adhere to the:

• Student Code of Conduct
• Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement
• Caring and Safe School Policy
• All other Board policies and procedures
• Campaign guidelines, including:
  • Visiting or making presentations to students in neighbouring schools is not permitted.
  • We encourage you to direct students in Grades 5-12 to participate in voting and visiting the election site. 

Voting will take place between January 13-17, 2025. 

All students in Grades 5-12 will receive a message in their GAPPS accounts. The email will include a link to a site where you can learn about the candidates in your area and vote. This is your opportunity to have your say in who will represent your voice in the next school year. We encourage you to take the time to vote.

To ensure a fair and equitable election process for all, we ask that student trustee candidates adhere to the following guidelines:

• We encourage you to direct students in Grades 5-12 to participate in voting by checking their GAPPs email in early January and visiting the election site for their area. On the site, they will find information about candidates and a link to the voting form. 
• We encourage you to limit the use of personal social media to encourage student participation in the election process. As noted above, you can direct students to their GAPPS email in January to learn more about how to vote.
• Visiting or making presentations to students in neighbouring schools is not permitted.

Thank you for adhering to our procedures to ensure a fair and equitable election process for all, and for your interest in the position.

The four final candidates (one from each area of the board) will be notified and will have an opportunity to campaign. 

Important: No applicant or candidate may campaign prior to the campaign period beginning February 10, 2025. Campaign guidelines will be shared with candidates and must be adhered to. 

Once the four candidates have been notified, they will work with the current Student Trustees and staff to develop a short, two-minute video. The information on your application form and this video will be posted on the Student Trustee webpages to support student electors in making an educated decision on Election Day.

Criteria and information to be included in these resources will be provided to each of the four candidates.

Starting on February 10, 2025, the four candidates may begin campaigning. Information about each candidate will be posted on this page, communicated to student electors and shared via social media.

• During this period, candidates will participate in several events to elevate student voice. 
• All eligible student electors will be provided with information about the candidates and how they can vote.
• The campaign period ends at 11:59 p.m.on February 14,  2025.

Campaign Guidelines

Student trustee candidates are expected to adhere to the:

• Student Code of Conduct
• Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement
• Caring and Safe School Policy
• All other Board policies and procedures
• Campaign guidelines, including:
  • Visiting or making presentations to students in neighbouring schools is not permitted.
  • We encourage you to direct students in Grades 5-12 to participate in voting and visiting the election site. 

Campaigning by social media is not required or encouraged by York Region District School Board. If, as a student trustee candidate, you do choose to use your personal social media account for campaigning purposes, please review the following guidelines and considerations:

• You are still expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct, Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement, Caring and Safe Schools Policy, and all other Board policies and procedures.
• To create a personal account, no permission needs to be obtained, but be aware that by creating an account you will become searchable and scrutinizable by the public. You may want to consider creating a separate account for the campaign, to keep it separate from a personal account. 
• Review all setting options including privacy and notifications.  Review for examples (e.g. turn off location settings, allow people to tag you in photos, check time zone default, decide which notifications you want to receive)
• It is suggested to turn off comments on your posts and encourage users who would like to contact you to do so via direct message.
• Students are encouraged to limit the use of their accounts to encourage students to learn more about the candidates and vote and to direct students to the website www.yrdsb.ca/studenttrustees and their GAPPS accounts for more information. 
• YRDSB social media accounts will not retweet/repost/endorse student trustee candidate accounts. YRDSB will be sharing information about the student trustee election process. Students are welcome to retweet/repost. 
• Please note that the only board-approved social media platforms are Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). All other platforms cannot be accessed on our network.

Need to report abusive behaviour? You can find information about how to report on all social media platforms. If you are unsure of which type of report to file, would like to discuss how best to deal with a particular concern, or have any other questions about the campaign guidelines, contact StudentTrustee.Elections@yrdsb.ca. 

Voting for the two student trustees who will represent students in the 2025-2026 school year will take place February 18-19, 2025. All students in Grades 5-12 can vote for the student trustee. 

Voting​ begins on February 18, 2025 and closes February 19, 2025​ at 8:00 p.m.

Students will receive information in their GAPPS email about how to vote. 

The results of the election will be shared with the four candidates at a predetermined time.

The results will be posted on this page.

At the Board level, Trustee Services supports the work of the student trustees. Four administrator advisors support the work of the YRPC.

The individuals elected to the role of Student Trustee for the year 2025-2026 will be provided with key dates and additional information to support their transition into this important role.

Candidates were required to contact the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Education Team at indigenous.education@yrdsb.ca before 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2025 with their Declaration of intent to run.

Important: No applicant or candidate may campaign prior to the Campaign Period.  

Once candidates have been notified, they will work with the current Indigenous Student Trustee and/or staff to develop the following campaign materials: 

1. a campaign information “About Me” document that will be made available to all eligible voters in grades 6-12 prior to the all-candidate meeting through social media and Board communication; and
2. a short, two-minute video or a prepared speech to be delivered during the virtual all-candidates meeting on February 24, 2025.

Support is available to students so that they feel confident that they are providing their best message to their peers. 

Starting on Monday, February 10, 2025, candidates may begin campaigning. Information about each candidate from their “About Me” letter to students will be posted on the Student Trustee webpage and communicated via email to eligible Indigenous student electors in grades 6-12 and shared via social media. All eligible electors will be provided with information about how they can vote.

On Monday, February 24, 2025, at 6:30 pm, candidates will participate in an All-Candidate Meeting, which will be live-streamed and available to self-identified Indigenous students to view. Student candidates will have two minutes to share their previously prepared video or a speech. This should cover why they are running for the position, what they would bring to the role, what they envision their role to be, and what they wish to accomplish during their term. The campaign period ends at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, February 28, 2025 at 11:59 pm. 

Voting will be open to all eligible self-identified Indigenous students at the YRDSB from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Instructions will be communicated to all eligible student voters in grades 6-12 via email to their Board gapps.yrdsb.ca address and home email addresses if provided.

The results of the election will be shared with all candidates prior to a public announcement of the winner on Thursday, February 28, 2025. The results will be posted on the Student Trustee webpage.