Voters should have more choices for the Richmond Board of Education this election than they did in 2011, with the announcement of two new trustee candidates Thursday.
The Richmond Community Coalition announced that two potential rookies of public service will vie for a chair on the board.
Jonathan Ho, a banker who has lived in Richmond for 15 years, is a member of the Cook Elementary school planning council. He noted his community service with the Royal Hong Kong Regiment Association of BC as well as his church group as a youth leader.
“I want to advocate for career education programs, allow students to have more employable skills to get ready for society and their community or further their skilled trades,” said Ho, a father of two school-age children.
He said he also wants to advocate for practical financial literacy for students and help new immigrants better understand Canada’s culture of public education.
Ho, 53, has two children, one in high school and the other in elementary school. He ran in the last trustee election, finishing ninth in the seven-seat race.
Matt Pitcairn, a native of Richmond, is the manager of communications and policy at the Richmond Chamber of Commerce who has been involved in various community groups such as the Steveston Historic Society, Richmond Caring Place Society and the City Centre Community Association.
Pitcairn said he wants classrooms to “feel as safe and as inclusive as possible.” As a new father of a one-year-old he said he wants to shape the school board in his four year-term so that when his son reaches kindergarten the district is “keeping up with the evolving pace of society.”
Pitcairn, 30, is a director with the RCC. The RCC has no platform to date.
Pitcairn said he wants to help shape the district's policies on technology, social media use and e-materials. When asked to elaborate, he said he wants to have more discussions with family and community members to develop a platform.
He did say he would "look at" open-source electronic textbooks as something to consider moving forward. He said e-books, as opposed to standard paper textbooks, would better keep pace with the evolving, fast-paced rate at which information is procured.
In 2011 just 10 candidates vied for seven spots on the board.
Kenny Chiu and Grace Tsang will be leaving to pursue other political ambitions.
Jack Trovato (IND), Michael Starchuk (RITE), Alice S. Wong (Renew), Peter Liu (Richmond First) and Kevin Lainchbury (Richmond First) are other non-incumbent candidates who will compete against five returning trustees, including chair Donna Sargent.
They must register with the City of Richmond commencing Sep. 30.
