Elections Yukon SANDBOX Your reliable source for information on territorial, school council & school board elections.

School council elections

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School councils provide a way for Yukoners to get involved in the education of children. They provide advice to the Minister of Education on:

  • resource allocation,
  • school programs, and
  • attendance policies

There are 17 school councils in the Yukon. Each council has between three and seven elected members. The number of elected members varies by school and is set by regulation.

Upcoming school council elections

School council elections happen every two years. The next school council election will be in spring 2026.

More information about school council elections will be available in early spring 2026.

Past school council election results

View the results of past school council elections and by-elections. You will find the list of elected members and the number of vacant positions at the close of the election.

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Eligibility to vote or be a candidate

In a school council election

Form409-Qualifications_for_Voting_in_SC_Election

You can vote or be a candidate in a school council election if you are a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, AND you:

  • are the parent/guardian of a student who attends the school
    AND/OR
  • have lived in the school's attendance area for at least three (3) months.

In a Catholic school council election

Catholic School Qualifications

You can vote or be a candidate in a Catholic school council election if you are a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, AND you:

  • are the parent/guardian of a student who attends the school
    AND/OR
  • have lived in the school's attendance area for at least three (3) months AND are a registered parishioner at Sacred Heart Cathedral parish or Our Lady of Victory parish.

If you do not live in the attendance area or are a Catholic who is not a registered parishioner, you may still be able to vote or be a candidate in a Catholic school council election. Contact the Catholic Diocese of Whitehorse (867-667-2052 / [email protected]) to discuss additional eligibility options.

You may be able to vote or be a candidate in more than one school council election.

If you are not sure which school attendance area you live in, check the attendance area maps or contact the Department of Education's school council liaison.

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Voting in school council elections

Where a vote is needed, you can vote in-person at the school over two days or apply to have a ballot mailed to you.

Being a candidate in school council elections

To be a candidate, you need to:

  • be an eligible elector
  • complete a nomination package, including having at least three other people nominate you, and
  • submit your nomination package before the deadline.

Nomination packages are made available before the election period begins.

School council members are elected for two-year terms. Their term starts the day before the first day of school after the election.

Filling vacancies on a school council

Occasionally school councils have vacancies between elections. When this happens, the school council members can recommend a person to fill the vacancy.

To find out more about filling a vacancy, contact the school council or the Department of Education's school council liaison.

Guaranteed representatives on school councils

Nine school councils have guaranteed representation of Yukon First Nations. These guaranteed representative members are in addition to elected members. Guaranteed representatives are appointed.

To find out more about these positions, contact the Department of Education's school council liaison.

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School attendance area maps

Each school council has an assigned attendance area. Maps for each school are below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

General

1) When is the next election for members of school council?

A general election is held every two years to elect members to school councils. After the May 2026 election, the next general election will be in spring 2028.

2) What attendance area do I live in?

Check the school attendance area maps or contact Richard Poirier, School Council Liaison, by emailing [email protected] or calling (867) 332-7249.

3) How many school council members will be elected?

Between 3 and 7 members will be elected to each council. The number of elected members on each school council is specified by the Minister of Education and the Education Act. 

4) When do school council terms begin and end?

If elected or acclaimed, your term will begin on the day before the first day of school following polling day. To find out when the first day of school is in your community, refer to the school calendar available on Yukon.ca.

5) How do I contact my Returning Officer?

School council returning officers do not have offices and are available as required. Outside of an election period, contact Elections Yukon at [email protected] or (867) 667-8683.

During a school council election, the name and contact information for your returning officer will be available from the school, posted notices, and on this page. 

6) Where can I learn more about the role of school councils?

Learn what school councils do

If you have questions about what members of a school council do:

Candidates

1) Who can run as a candidate in a school council election?

To run as a candidate in the election, all four of these criteria must be met:

  1. Canadian citizen,
  2. 18 years or older at time of voting,
  3. Qualified for voting in the attendance area; see the qualification requirements section for more information.
  4. Have not already voted in the attendance area in the school council election. 

Qualification Requirements for School Councils

Eligibility in an attendance area differs depending on the type of school council. Being qualified means meeting one of the listed conditions for the corresponding type:

For School Councils:

 
  • Resident of the attendance area for three months or more.
  • Parent2 of a child attending the school.

For Catholic School Councils:

 
  • Resident of the attendance area for three months or more and also currently a registered member of either of these two parishes3: Sacred Heart Cathedral or Lady of Victory.
  • Parent2 of a child attending the school.
  • Issued approval that is recognized by the Bishop of the Catholic Episcopal Corporation designating you as resident for electoral purposes (e.g., letter of approval, etc.)
  • 2Parent: Refers to the biological parents, the adoptive parents by custom or otherwise, the persons legally
                   entitled to custody, or the persons who usually have the care and control of the child.
  • 3Parishes: Catholic school elections also require you to be a registered member of an approved parish.
                     Unregistered Catholics may contact the Catholic Diocese of Whitehorse to discuss their options.

2) How do I become a candidate in a school council election

To be a candidate, a properly completed nomination paper must be filed with the returning officer for the school's attendance area.

Nomination forms and instructions on how to complete them will be available once the election starts. 

Key dates for the 2026 school council elections can be found on this page. 

3) Can I be elected to more than one school?

Yes. You can be elected for any school council for which you are a confirmed candidate. 

4) Can I submit my nomination paper to any School Council Returning Officer?

No. You must submit your nomination paper to the returning officer appointed to the school council election for the school for which you wish to be a candidate. 

5) Can I withdraw my name after filing my nomination paper?

Yes. You can withdraw your name anytime before the polls open on polling day. You must provide the returning officer with notice of your withdrawal—in writing.

6) What happens if the number of candidates is equal to or less then the number of positions on the school council?

Candidates whose nomination papers have been accepted and approved by the returning officer will be elected by acclamation. 

7) What occurs when there are more candidates running than elected positions for the school council?

A vote will be held.

Voting

1) Who can vote in school council elections?

To vote in the election, all four of these criteria must be met:

  1. Canadian citizen,
  2. 18 years or older at time of voting,
  3. Qualified for voting in the attendance area; see the qualification requirements section for more information.
  4. Have not already voted in the attendance area in the school council election. 

Qualification Requirements for School Councils

Eligibility in an attendance area differs depending on the type of school council. Being qualified means meeting one of the listed conditions for the corresponding type:

For School Councils:

  • Resident of the attendance area for three months or more.
  • Parent2 of a child attending the school.

For Catholic School Councils:

  • Resident of the attendance area for three months or more and also currently a registered member of either of these two parishes3: Sacred Heart Cathedral or Lady of Victory.
  • Parent2 of a child attending the school.
  • Issued approval that is recognized by the Bishop of the Catholic Episcopal Corporation designating you as resident for electoral purposes (e.g., letter of approval, etc.)
  • 2Parent: Refers to the biological parents, the adoptive parents by custom or otherwise, the persons legally
                   entitled to custody, or the persons who usually have the care and control of the child.
  • 3Parishes: Catholic school elections also require you to be a registered member of an approved parish.
                     Unregistered Catholics may contact the Catholic Diocese of Whitehorse to discuss their options.

2) Where can I vote for school council?

If an election is to be held for a school council, voting will be available at the polling place established by the returning officer. Polling places are typically located in a school.

Dates and voting locations will be announced as soon as they are confirmed and can be found on this page.

3) How can I vote for school council if I will be away?

If you will be away during the election period (April 16-May 11, 2026), you can vote by mail-in ballot. 

Applications for mail-in ballots will be made available at the start of the election period, on April 16, 2026. 

4) How are mail-in ballots used for school councils?

Mail-in ballots are an option to vote early, although actual mailing out or return has been very infrequent. Electors must consider mail delivery timelines to ensure receipt and return of the mail-in ballot by the close of polls.

More information, including applications to vote by mail-in ballot, will be made available on April 16, 2026. 

5) Can I vote if I am not the parent of a child in school, but have care or custody of them?

Yes. The Education Act defines parents as:

  • The biological parents,
  • the adoptive parents by custom or otherwise,
  • the persons legally entitled to custody, or
  • the persons who usually have the care and control of the child. 

Learn more about school councils

If you have questions about what members of a school council members do:

Questions about school council elections

If you have questions about school council elections, contact Elections Yukon by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-866-668-8683.

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