On October 16, 2025 the City of Brandon will choose its newest Trustee for the Brandon School Division. Too often school board elections are ignored with some of the poorest voter turnout amongst all elections in Canada and yet these are the people who directly impact the lives and education of our most vulnerable sector, our children.

School boards across Canada have been under attack in the pas few years - with protests, threats, and even internal members demanding they reject Truth and Reconciliation, or equity programs (Mountainview) or governments and parent groups demand control over library content and governments like Danielle Smith's in Alberta requiring students have parental consent for name or pronoun changes.

Who we elect as trustees to our school boards plays a very important role in the direction or community takes, not just on education but as society as a whole.

As the Brandon School Division By-Election approaches, I am sitting down with the trustee candidates who are willing to engage in some Real talk - where do they stand on the issues? What are their goals and priorities for their time on the boards and most importantly - why should Brandon elect them?

Today's Real Talk discussion is with candidate Laura Armitage, a mom of 4 who has been volunteering for 10 years on her kids' parent councils. She wants to focus on classroom supports for students and teachers, more EAs, more diagnostics and more therapists. She wants to let librarians do their jobs, says that forcing children to come out at home may take away their one safe place - school and is aware that teachers need more substitute options and our 'town kid' lunch programs need an overhaul.

Tune in and listen - the by-election is October 16, advance polls are October 8 & 11 in the City of Brandon.

Who are you voting for and why? Join the conversation