Student Trustees

Updates

Student Trustee Elections for 2025-2026 are coming soon:

  • February 19 for Indigenous Student Trustee debate and elections
  • February 20 for County and City Student Trustee debates and elections

For more information, check out So, you want to be a student trustee?

Previous Updates

Student Trustee Debates and Elections (February 29, 2024) 

On February 29, 2024, Thames Valley District School Board secondary school students Shivani Vimal and Emma Park were elected Student Trustees for the 2024-2025 school year. Their election followed the election of 2024-2025 Indigenous Student Trustee Lorissa Westlake, which took place on February 28.

Student Trustees have the same opportunities to participate in meetings and committees with municipally elected Trustees; however, their votes are non-binding.

"I believe that Thames Valley has the potential to elevate all students to be student leaders, and to be promoters of inclusivity,” said Shivani, a student at Lord Dorchester Secondary School.

London Central Secondary School student, Emma Park, echoed this sentiment: “Student Trustees play an essential role in creating a school that feels like a family - a board that feels like a community."

“It was a pleasure and honour to attend this week’s Student Trustees’ Debates and Elections,” said Thames Valley District School Board Chair Beth Mai, “Student voices are essential to understanding the everyday successes and challenges experienced by school communities, and key to the work we do as a Board. On behalf of Thames Valley District School Board, I want to congratulate the incoming Student Trustees and commend everyone who stepped forward to participate in this important process.”

All three Student Trustees share in the important responsibility of bringing the perspective of Thames Valley students to the Board table. As Co-Chairs of the Student Advisory Council, they meet throughout the year with students across the district to discuss and provide input on issues at the school and system level.

Indigenous Student Trustee Debates & Elections (February 28, 2024)
North Middlesex District High School student Lorissa Westlake has been elected as Thames Valley District School Board’s next Indigenous Student Trustee.
 
Student Trustees have the same opportunities to participate in meetings and committees with municipally elected Trustees; however, their votes are non-binding.  
 
The Indigenous Student Trustee shares in the important responsibility of bringing the perspective of Thames Valley students to the Board table. Additionally, the Indigenous Student Trustee advocates for their First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peers.
 
First Nation Trustee Carol Antone was present at the election on Wednesday to reaffirm the importance of the role.
 
"Each Indigenous Student Trustee plays a crucial, leadership role for Thames Valley and in supporting First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students. Thames Valley is grateful to Lorissa for their commitment. I look forward to working with them to strengthen a respectful relationship between the board and the Indigenous students and community," said First Nation Trustee Antone.
 
In their election speech, Lorissa also spoke to the importance of the position of Indigenous Student Trustee: "This position shows the type of advocacy and work of Indigenous communities in order to be recognized and heard." 
 
In addition, they spoke to the goal of "achieving a welcoming and inclusive environment in schools in Thames Valley".
 
Lorissa is the eighth Indigenous Student Trustee since Thames Valley introduced the role in 2017-2018. Thames Valley was among the first school boards in Canada to establish this position to be inclusive of Indigenous voices and perspectives.

Current Student Trustees

As your student trustees, we work to empower students by giving you a voice. It is our responsibility to represent the student body at the Board table and help keep you informed of discussions and decisions that affect you.

Giving students the ability to influence learning is integral to everyone's success. We want our schools to be places where students take ownership of their learning and their school environment. In order to accurately represent the Thames Valley District student body we need to hear from you. Share your views, ideas and concerns with us so that decisions can be made with your best interests in mind. Every idea matters.

Emma

Emma Park

Student Trustee
City of London
emma.park@tvdsb.ca

Lorissa

Lorissa Westlake

Indigenous Student Trustee
l.westlake@tvdsb.ca

Shivani

Shivani Vimal

Student Trustee
Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford counties
shivani.vimal@tvdsb.ca


What is a student trustee?  

Student trustees are the voice of students when it comes to education and schools in the Thames Valley District School BoardThey help keep students in our Board informed and up to date about important decisions that affect them.  

What do student trustees do? 

Student trustees take on a variety of responsibilities and fulfill various roles: 

  • They speak on behalf of Thames Valley students when attending meetings at the Board table, and across the province.  

  • They serve as members of Committee of the Whole and the Board of Trustees, Student Trustees are not able to participate in binding votes, but they can and do work to representstudent voices and perspectives in Board discussions.  

  • Student trustees present reports to the Board of Trustees. 

  • They attend conferences hosted by the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association/Association des élèvesconseillers et conseillères de l'Ontario(OSTA-AECO). This also includes:  

  • They sit on OSTA-AECO committees

  • Student trustees work with the superintendent responsible for student trusteesas well as Board Services staff.  

How do I become a student trustee?

Student trustees are chosen by their fellow students in yearly elections. 

Each year, high school students vote to pick three student trustees to join the Board of Trustees: One Indigenous student, one county student representing Elgin, Middlesex, and Oxford counties, and one is city student representing the city of London. 

Student trustees learn all about the school board and get the chance to share with trustees and staff what really matters to students. They weigh in on important decisions that affect all students. Not only can they make a difference, but they also: 

  • Learn valuable leadership and relationship skills – great for resumes and future careers
  • Receive a $2,500 honorarium 

How long do student trustees serve/ what is their term length?  

Student trustees are elected for a one-year term, beginning on August 1, and ending the following year, on July 31. Additionally, student trustees receive a $2,500 honorarium for a fully completed term. Further information about student trustees is outlined in Student Trustees on the Board Policy and Student Trustees on the Board Procedure. 

What support do student trustees receive in their role? 

Each student trustee receives a budget for professional development and communication expenses. Information about items eligible for reimbursement are outlined in Expense Reimbursement – Trustees Policyand Expense Reimbursement – Trustees Procedure  

I have questions, who do I contact? 

The current student trustees are always available to address your concerns and/or answer your questions. 

If you have questions about Board policies and/or procedures or student trustee participation in Board and/or Committee meetings, you can contact the Trustees Office Executive Assistant, Danielle Hancock at d.hancock@tvdsb.ca 


Resources

Student trustees on the Board policy   

Student trustees on the Board procedure 

Student Advisory Council procedure

The Ontario Student Trustees’ Association 

Student Trustee handbook

Education Act

Ontario Regulation 7/07 Student Trustees

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