Yukon Elects New Trustees for School Boards Amid Enrollment Surge

This week, Yukon parents and members of First Nations are casting their votes to select new trustees for the First Nation School Board (FNSB) and the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon (CSFY). The voting takes place on Monday.

The newly chosen trustees will collaborate with the newly formed territorial government to address the educational demands of Yukon’s expanding population. CSFY's executive director, Marc Champagne, emphasized the increasing enrollment in French-language education and the expansion of initiatives, such as a French daycare in Whitehorse and additional programs in Dawson. The board oversees two schools in Whitehorse and manages a homeschooling initiative.

“This year brings important growth and fresh responsibilities,” stated Champagne. “The greatest challenge for the new trustees will be managing this expansion while continuing program development.”

The FNSB, which was established in 2022, now includes 11 schools throughout Yukon and has noted improvements in literacy rates. Executive director Melissa Flynn pointed out that involving First Nation citizens in decision-making processes enhances student-centric learning experiences.

A total of nine candidates are vying for positions on the FNSB, with ten candidates competing for CSFY trustee spots. Candidates Dana Tizya-Tramm and Dustin McKenzie-Hubbard shared their visions with the media. McKenzie-Hubbard, a citizen of Champagne and Aishihik, highlighted his goals of enhancing language programs and promoting inclusive and safe school environments.

Tizya-Tramm, a citizen of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and a former chief, is seeking re-election. He underscored education as a critical foundation for community progress and emphasized the necessity for a transparent funding formula as a priority concern.

Eligibility to vote varies: those voting for the FNSB must be First Nation members or parents/guardians of children enrolled in FNSB schools, while CSFY voters need to be parents/guardians of CSFY students, advocate for minority language rights, and have lived in Yukon for no less than three months. In both instances, voters must be Canadian citizens aged 18 or above.