Every four years during a municipal election, public school supporters in York Region elect a trustee who represents them at the York Region District School Board (YRDSB).
The boundaries of the areas the trustees represent change over time. In 2021, YRDSB conducted a review of its Trustee Areas in what is officially called a “Trustee Determination and Distribution Study.” This review had two components:
Determining the number of trustees on YRDSB; and,
Distributing the trustees across the Region into what are called Trustee Areas.
View the final Trustee Determination and Distribution 2022 report submitted to the Ministry of Education.
Option 3 - referenced in the Final Report
Georgina and East Gwillimbury are combined (TA 1)
Newmarket stands alone (TA 2)
Aurora and Whitchurch-Stouffville are combined (TA 3)
Vaughan Ward 1 and King are combined (TA 4)
Vaughan Wards 2 & 3 are combined (TA 5)
Vaughan Wards 4 & 5 are combined (TA 6)
Richmond Hill Wards 1, 2 & 3 are combined (TA 7)
Richmond Hill Wards 4, 5 & 6 are combined (TA 8)
Markham Wards 1 & 8 are combined (TA 9)
Markham Wards 5 & 7 are combined (TA 10)
Markham Wards 3 & 4 are combined (TA 11)
Markham Wards 2 & 6 are combined (TA 12)
Why a Trustee Area Review?
Before every municipal election, Ontario school boards are required to review and recommend the number of trustees, and the areas they represent, to the Ontario Minister of Education in accordance with Ontario Regulation 412/00, Elections to and Representation on District School Boards, under the Education Act, R.S.O.1990. Trustee Areas may change slightly, significantly or not at all.
YRDSB’s current Trustee Areas have been in place since the 2014 election. Since then, there has been considerable growth across York Region. The goal of this detailed review is to ensure fair and equitable representation of all public school supporters.
The results of this review are expected to remain in effect throughout the 2022, 2026, 2030 and 2034 elections.
Review Constraints
The number of trustees and the areas they represent must conform to provincial regulations under the Ontario Education Act, which mandates that there must be a minimum of 11 and a maximum of 12 trustees. Currently there are 12 elected trustees as well as one appointed Indigenous Trustee and three Student Trustees. The Indigenous Trustee position and three Student Trustee positions are not affected by this review.
Since municipalities run the process of electing trustees, Trustee Areas must be composed of municipal wards. York Region has nine municipalities with varying numbers of wards. While Trustee Areas must be composed of municipal wards, they can cross municipal boundaries.
Factors for Drawing Trustee Area Boundaries
Four factors are considered in drawing Trustee Area boundaries:
The number of public school electors in each Trustee Area;
The number of schools in each Trustee Area, both elementary and secondary;
The number of students in each Trustee Area, both elementary and secondary; and,
The number of Trustee Areas in each of the four Community Education Centre areas.
When drawing Trustee Area boundaries, an attempt is made to balance these factors and the growth or change expected up to the 2034 election.
Any boundary changes YRDSB makes to its current Trustee Areas will be implemented for the 2022 municipal election.
What Is This Review Not About?
The YRDSB Determination and Distribution Review is not about YRDSB operations, such as determining school catchment areas, school closings, new school locations or whether trustees are doing a good job.
The review focuses on the boundaries of Trustee Areas, the geographic areas from which trustees are elected. As YRDSB’s Indigenous Trustee and Student Trustee positions do not represent specific geographic areas, they are not affected by this review.
How Was The Review Carried Out?
Background Research (April – May 2021)
The consultant team looked in depth at the requirements of the Ontario Education Act and its Regulations, best practices, the existing Trustee Area boundaries and the currently ongoing ward boundary reviews in Aurora, Vaughan and Whitchurch-Stouffville.
Projections of public school electors, number of elementary and secondary schools and students were developed for 2022, 2026, 2030 and 2034, the timeframe of the review.
Phase 1 Consultation (May – July 2021)
Phase 1 collected input/suggestions/recommendations on the current Trustee Area boundaries. Input into Trustee Area boundaries and issues was collected from trustees, stakeholders and the public through interviews, webinars and an online survey. Towards the end of this phase, the consultant team analyzed the input and developed possible Trustee Area configurations.
Phase 2 Consultation (August – September 2021)
During Phase 2, possible Trustee Area configurations were shared with trustees and the public to gain initial feedback. This took place through trustee meetings and four public meetings (one per Community Education Centre area).
An Information Report, with draft options for new Trustee Area boundaries, was discussed by trustees at a Standing Committee meeting. (October)
A Final Report on the YRDSB Trustee D&D Review with Recommendations was discussed with trustees. (November - January 2022)
The Final Report recommended new Trustee Area boundaries to the YRDSB.
*A map showing the new Trustee Area boundaries is currently in development.
Who Were The Consultants For The Review?
The consultant team includes Beate Bowron (Project Lead and Expert in Public Consultation), Dr. Gary Davidson (Political Scientist), along with Russell Mathew and Patrick Barbieri from Hemson Consulting (Demographer and Geographic Information Systems Expert).
All team members have considerable experience in trustee determination and distribution reviews and/or municipal ward boundary reviews.
If you have questions about the review, please send them to: trustee.services@yrdsb.ca.