2025 Alberta School Board Election

The Election for Alberta School Board Trustees is Monday, October 20, 2025.

Albertans vote for their School Board Trustees as part of the municipal general elections once every four years. Elected by and accountable to the communities they serve, Trustees, and the Board as a whole, are strategic governors and political officials who advocate for Alberta's children and their education, and serve as a bridge between government and the community. The Minister of Education assigns to the Northern Gateway School Division Board of Trustees the responsibility of providing a public education system that serves the best interest of students and their parents or guardians. Alberta school boards are considered statutory corporations empowered by the provincial government to govern local education, which reflects the principle that decisions made at the community level are more effective and responsive to local needs. Responsibilities include:

  • Planning for the Division and setting long-term goals and priorities.
  • Developing policy which creates the framework for how the Division operates.
  • Approval and oversight of the Division's annual budget.
  • Evaluating the performance of the Superintendent.
  • Advocating to the government for funding and resources.
  • Promoting public education and communicating achievements and results to stakeholders.

School Board Trustees play a significant role in shaping the future of education. Serving as a Trustee can be deeply rewarding for those who are passionate about education and are driven to give back to their community.

The NGPS Board of Trustees consists of nine locally-elected officials who collectively serve all families and stakeholders in the Division. This representation covers three electoral wards spanning from the Onoway area in the south, to north of the Town of Valleyview:

Ward 1 

  • Subdivision 1: Town of Onoway and portion of Lac Ste. Anne County
  • Subdivision 2: Village of Alberta Beach and portion of Lac Ste. Anne County
  • Subdivision 3: Village of Sangudo, Town of Mayerthorpe and portions of Lac Ste. Anne County and Woodlands County

Ward 2 

  • Town of Whitecourt, Hamlet of Blue Ridge and portion of Woodlands County

Ward 3 

  • Subdivision 1: Fox Creek and portion of MD of Greenview
  • Subdivision 2: Town of Valleyview and portions of MD of Smoky River, MD of Greenview and Big Lakes County

Nomination Day is September 22, 2025.

Nomination packages may be picked up in person beginning on January 1, 2025, or downloaded from the following links. Candidates must submit Form 4, Form 5, Form 29, a Criminal Record Check, and a $100.00 deposit as outlined below in order to be added to the election ballot. 

 

Form 4: Nomination Paper and Candidate’s Acceptance

  • Candidate’s address is the legal land description/residential address and postal code. PO Box numbers are not accepted.
  • Please write your email and phone number at the bottom of the form.
  • Signatures of a minimum of FIVE (5) electors eligible to vote is required.
  • Only electors who are residents of the Ward/Electoral Subdivision for which the candidate for election is being nominated may sign the nomination of the candidate.
  • The candidate may appoint an official agent.
  • The nomination paper must be signed by the candidate and be sworn or affirmed before the Returning Officer or a Commissioner for Oaths.
  • A nomination paper faxed or electronically submitted will not be accepted.

Form 5: Candidate Financial Information

  • This completed form must be submitted with Form 4.

Form 29: Notice of Intent

  • Candidates (including those who have not yet completed Form 4 with elector signatures) must submit Form 29 which allows them to raise or spend money on their campaign in accordance with the Local Authorities Election Act.

NGPS Bylaw 3-24 Deposit

  • This Bylaw requires that all nominations for elected office shall be accompanied by a deposit in the amount of $100.00. 
  • The deposit must be made by cash, certified cheque or money order, and the nomination paper will not be accepted without the deposit.

NGPS Bylaw 4-24 Criminal Record Check

  • All candidates must submit, with their nomination paper, a Criminal Record Check provided by the police service, and valid for a period of up to three months prior to the date that the nomination paper is submitted and verified.

All election forms and other information can be found on the Alberta School Board Elections webpage. Please note that to access forms on the website, each document must be downloaded and then opened from the downloads folder.

The completed nomination paper will only be accepted in person until 12:00 noon on September 22, 2025, at the following locations during posted office hours only:

  • Whitecourt - NGPS Division Office, 4816 – 49 Ave.
  • Onoway - Onoway Elementary School, 5108 – Lac Ste. Anne Trail North
  • Mayerthorpe - Elmer Elson Elementary School, 4215 Geinger Avenue
  • Fox Creek - Fox Creek School, 501 – 8 Street
  • Valleyview - Hillside Jr/Sr High School, 4701 – 52 Avenue

The Local Authorities Election Act outlines eligibility guildelines for prospective candidates.

Section 21(1) 

A person may be nominated as a candidate in any election under this Act if on nomination day the person

(a) is eligible to vote in that election,

(b) has been a resident of the local jurisdiction and the ward, if any, for the 6 consecutive months immediately preceding nomination day, and

(c) is not otherwise ineligible or disqualified.

Section 21(3)

Notwithstanding subsection (1), a candidate for trustee of a board of a school division that is wholly or partly within the boundaries of a city is not required to be a resident of the ward in either a general election or a by-election, but must be a resident of the school division.

These are general guidelines and candidates should refer to the Local Authorities Election Act and the Education Act for complete information. It is the responsibility of prospective candidates to ensure they are eligible.

 

WARD

CANDIDATES

Ward 1, Subdivision 1 (1 Trustee)  
Ward 1, Subdivision 2 (1 Trustee)  
Ward 1, Subdivision 3 (2 Trustees)  
Ward 2 (2 Trustees)  
Ward 3, Subdivision 1 (1 Trustee)  
Ward 3, Subdivision 2 (2 Trustees)  

 

Check back often for updated information leading up to the election in October.

Please note, it is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that the nomination paper and other documents are properly completed.  It is not the responsibility of the Returning Officer to decide on the validity of any information contained in the documents.  If a nomination is not completed in its entirety, the Returning Officer will not accept it for filing.

Good luck!

 

More information and who to contact..........

Additional Resources:

 

If you have questions regarding the nomination and election process, please contact:

Tamara Spong
Returning Officer for Northern Gateway Public Schools
4816 - 49 Avenue
Whitecourt, AB   T7S 1N8
Phone: 780.778.2800
Email: tamara.spong@ngps.ca