Every person who is entitled to have his or her name entered on the list of electors and who, on polling day, has been domiciled on WQ territory for at least six months may be elected as a Commissioner. Notice will be given prior to the next elections. This notice will include all the information needed to file for nomination. For more information, refer to the Directeur Général des Élections du Québec.

Procedure to Attend or Participate

Council of Commissioner’s meetings are open to the public. As such, should you wish to attend and/or participate in the meeting, you are asked to send a request at least 24 hours prior, to the Office of the Secretary General.

Those wishing to address the Council may do so during the Public Participation Period, which is at 6:30 p.m. All individuals or groups wishing to ask questions or state their concerns during the Public Participation Period are asked to submit a request to the Secretary General at least 24 hours before to the meeting.

Commissioners’ Role

In 2020, French-language school boards were abolished by the Québec government, and replaced with school services centres. English-language school boards, however, retain their governance model.

School commissioners play a key role. Elected by the citizens, they determine the orientations of the school board, taking into consideration the interests of the students, parents and electors of their community.

Since the school board is an autonomous local government, the commissioners, who together make up the council of commissioners, exercise responsibilities comparable to those of municipal councillors.

Since 2014, the chairs of school boards are elected by universal suffrage, meaning that the electors choose the person who will chair their local school board.

The commissioner decides on the following matters:

• the orientations and priorities of the school board;
• educational and administrative policies;
• the school board’s strategic plan;
• the use of schools and training centres under the school board’s jurisdiction;
• the equitable distribution of human, material and financial resources among the schools and training centres;
• the school transportation policy (including fees and walking distances);
• summer courses offered and related fees;
• awarding of professional service contracts (eg. in architecture or engineering) or hygiene and sanitation service contracts;
• the budget orientations and expenses to be authorized;
• the Policy on School Daycare Services;
• affiliation with national or international organizations (e.g. International Baccalaureate) or withdrawal from these organizations;
• fees for renting out rooms or space to municipal or community organizations;
• social projects to prevent students from dropping out or to eliminate violence and bullying.

Board Elections

In 2020, French-language school boards were abolished by the Québec government, and replaced with school services centres. English-language school boards, however, retain their governance model.

The WQ territory is divided into 11 electoral divisions. Each division elects one commissioner.

Electors list

School democracy concerns all Western Quebecers. Parents of children attending a school, adults attending an adult education centre or a vocational training centre, and citizens who care about the vitality of their neighbourhood all have an interest in participating in the election process.

To be able to exercise your right to vote, you must first be registered on the permanent list of electors of the Directeur Général des Élections du Québec.

If you have one or more children enrolled at the WQSB, you will be registered for its elections by default, as long as you reside on its territory.

If you do not have children, or have children enrolled neither at the WQSB nor at the French-language school board serving your domicile, you will by default be entered on the list of electors of the French-language school board. However, you can always choose to enter the WQSB Electors list instead, by submitting a filled Opt-in Opt-out form to the General Directorate.

Governing Boards at the School Level

Each of the 30 WQ schools has its own governing board. It is made up of an equal number of staff members and parents. The governing board plays a crucial role in determining a school’s direction and works in conjunction with the school principal.

The governing board is responsible for approving and overseeing a variety of issues including educational projects and the implementation of school budgets, regulation and student supervision policies. The board is also involved in the choice of school textbooks and other instructional materials, school closures as well as the selection process for the appointment of the school principal and confessional status.

For more information about a specific school’s governing board, contact it or visit its website.