Elections
Congratulations to Kaitlyn Hou and Charlie Ochu
as the Board’s Student Trustees
for the next school year 2024-2025!
2024-25 Student Trustees: Kaitlyn Hou & Charlie Ochu
Kaitlyn Hou
GRADE 10 STUDENT FROM APHS
"Words cannot describe how humbled and grateful I am to take on the honour of representing the students of HDSB as a student trustee. Never in my wildest dreams would I be standing here today, preparing to advocate for thousands of student voices in their education and wellbeing. And never in my wildest dreams, did I expect the overwhelming amount of support and engagement I’ve received throughout this process. I have so much gratitude to all the amazing candidate, trustee, and student friendships I’ve fostered throughout this campaigning period; the sense of community and connections established within the HDSB will stay with me forever. I look forward to seeing and feeling the change Charlie and I will achieve together, and I send sincere gratitude to everyone who has entrusted me to advocate for them. Halton, you have made my dreams come true; now, I will do my best to help HDSB students actualize their dreams too. "
Charlie Ochu
GRADE 10 STUDENT FROM OTHS
"Being able to experience this opportunity to act on behalf of all 67,000 students in the HDSB as one of the successful candidates is an incredible honor! While I feel nervous working with Ontario's best students, I'm also excited to do my best to make Halton a better learning environment for each student during Kaitlyn and I's term. Words cannot begin to express how thankful I am towards my family for encouraging me to do my best, and my friends for supporting me when I had doubts. Without them, I would be nowhere near where I am today. After seeing how hard our predecessors worked in this role and being able to experience the positive change they made, I too want to put my best foot forward and give this role all that I have so I can see my fellow students thrive in school. With this in mind, I have to do my best to represent every single student in Halton and make sure that their voices are heard by the board. I'm feeling good about our school board's future, I'm certain we can soar to never-before-seen heights!"
2024-2025 Student Trustee Candidates:
Online Elections Day: Thursday February 22nd from 8:00AM to 5:30PM
What is a Trustee?
Being a Student Trustee is a very important commitment, one that has two of our senior students across Halton representing all 66,000 of our students. These two students sit on the Board of Trustees and serve as the voice of our student population while advocating for youth issues at the Board, regional and provincial levels. In addition to chairing the Student Senate and joining the Board of Trustees, Student Trustees also work with the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association (OSTA-AECO) to discuss educational issues across Ontario.
How do I Qualify?
Deadline to submit the candidacy application form is Wed. Feb. 7th at 6:00PM. We will not accept any late applications. Submit to STelections@hdsb.ca. Candidates can begin campaign Mon. Feb. 05th provided you have submitted your candidacy application form (signed by principal and parent/guardian)
The Poster, Photograph, Recorded Speech and Written Answer to Main Question due on Monday, February 12 at 6:00pm. All candidacy materials (Poster, Photograph, Written Answer) will be available to all HDSB students on Wed. Feb. 14 Via HDSB Student Trustees Website
The Recorded Speeches will become available to all HDSB students on Wed. Feb. 21. Via email with link to the Voting Portal/Website Students can campaign until Thu. Feb 22 @ 7:30AM
Voting begins Thu. Feb 22 from 8AM-5:30PM
Timeline for Student Trustee Elections
Jan. 26, 2024 - Letter to Students - Student Trustee Election
Jan. 30, 2024 - Virtual Student Trustee Candidate Information Meeting
Feb. 1 - Feb. 7, 2024 - Virtual Drop-in so interested candidates can seek guidance in regards to the election process
Feb 5, 2024 - The first date candidates can submit a completed copy of their application to stelections@hdsb.ca
Feb. 7, 2024 - Deadline to submit candidacy application form, submitted to stelections@hdsb.ca by 6:00pm
Student Trustee Nomination Form, which can be found on Appendix A of the Student Trustee Administrative Procedure. Download a fillable version of the Student Trustee Candidate Application.
Student Trustee Nomination Form Submission Instructions
If able to print the form...
Download the form, complete the editable fields and save the form to your computer with in format: “STUDENT-TRUSTEE-2024_LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME.pdf”
Print the form, sign it and ask a parent/guardian to sign it
Scan the form and email it to your principal. Ask for their approval and signature
Confirm with your Principal whether they or you will forward the form to Susan Thrasher at stelections@hdsb.ca
If unable to print the form…
Download the form, complete the editable fields and save the form to your computer in this format: “STUDENT-TRUSTEE-2024_LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME.pdf”
Get parent/guardian permission and have them write an email to your Principal stating their support of your candidacy
Email your form to your Principal, ask for their approval and signature (remind them to look for the email from your parent/guardian)
Confirm with your Principal whether they or you will forward the form and email from your parent/guardian to Susan Thrasher at stelections@hdsb.ca
Feb. 12, 2024 - Deadline for Election Information submitted to stelections@hdsb.ca (6:00 p.m.), including:
One 2 minute .mp4 video. Please view video recording instructions.
One 8.5 x 11" campaign poster for the Senate social media account
Portrait Photograph for ballot
Written answer to election question
Feb. 14, 2024 - Candidate poster, written answer and photo of all candidates released on student senate website
Feb. 20, 2024 - Candidate Speeches available by video link for all HDSB students
Feb. 22, 2024 - Student Trustee Election - Online voting 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.