At Wednesday’s School District 53 meeting, Chair Marieze Tarr stated her disappointment that candidates for election in the Oliver area were not being allowed to come to the forum and present their credentials.

Tarr had been informed that the SO Chamber of Commerce planned an event for Tuesday November 5th at the Frank Venables Theatre – but invites issued to municipal/regional candidates only.

Tarr will write a letter to the Chamber. She says with 2 minutes speeches it would take a short time for the presentations of school board candidates.

Sylvia Slater, president of the South Okanagan Similkameen Teachers Union also commented and sent an email to the Chamber. Slater says SOSTU used to facilitate the community forums in the past but when it was dropped a number of years ago – trustees were eliminated from the mix. In School District 53 – all incumbents were acclaimed in Okanagan Falls, Osoyoos and the Similkameen but in Oliver – two positions are up for grabs. Two challengers and one incumbent for a three way race.

All at the meeting agreed that the elections are held at same time, jointly organized and that the community forum in Oliver should include the three candidates for school trustee.