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Patti Bacchus

Named as one of BC’s Top 100 Influential Women by the Vancouver Sun and twice named to Vancouver Magazine’s “Power 50” list, Patti is a well-known public education and social justice advocate who was the longest serving chair of the Vancouver School Board (VSB).

She ran for the VSB in three elections — in 2008, 2011 and 2014 — topping the polls each time. She was elected as board chair from 2008 – 2014.

Patti played a key role in the grassroots campaign to seismically upgrade at-risk B.C. public schools and is proud to have signed several funding agreements to upgrade or replace seismically high-risk Vancouver schools.

Patti worked alongside her VSB colleagues and community members to develop plans for Vancouver’s first Aboriginal-focused school of choice and an Early Mandarin Bilingual program. During her term as chair, the VSB passed ground-breaking sexual orientation and gender identity policy changes.

Patti also serves as a director on the board of the Broadbent Institute, a progressive, independent national organization that champions change through the promotion of democracy, equality, and sustainability and the training of a new generation of leaders.

Born and raised in Vancouver and a graduate of the University of Victoria (Political Science) and Langara College (Journalism), Patti is married to Lee Bacchus and has a grown stepdaughter and two adult children. 

VSB by-election candidates

A who's who of the candidates running in the Vancouver School Board by-election

VO contributing education editor Patti Bacchus knows most of the candidates. Here’s her first take on who is on the ballot.
Carleton fire

New schools, seismic upgrades, French Immersion and band programs among issues VSB candidates to face in by-election

Voters will have lots of questions for candidates running in the VSB by-election. Here’s what the VSB’s longest-serving chair thinks the top issues will be.
L'Ecole Bilingue

There's hope in the air as kids head back to Vancouver public schools

But the school year may be in for a bumpy start.

Horgan keeps his promise to restore adult education funding

Adults who’ve graduated from high school will be able to take fee-free high-school upgrade courses again thanks to B.C.’s new NDP government.
VSB building

Vancouver school board by-election set for October 14 and no, I'm not running

Education Minister Rob Fleming announced Thursday that Vancouver voters will get a chance to elect new school trustees.
Rob Fleming

Government cabinet picks bode well for public education and Vancouver schools

Rob Fleming, BC's new minister of education, is the former opposition critic. He knows the file well and can get to work quickly.
John Horgan

A “to-do” list for BC's new education minister

Patti Bacchus has some advice for whomever gets the job.
CBIS teachers

Teachers say new NDP government needs to clean up BC's offshore school program — here’s how

About 100 B.C. -certified teachers face expulsion from South Korea for allegedly having the wrong visas to work at B.C.-certified offshore schools.
Isabella Preite

Teachers say VSB isn’t complying with restored contact language — could lead to September school disruptions

Following the BCTF court win at the Supreme Court of Canada, teachers say the VSB isn’t getting enough funding to hire more teachers
 Bayview elementary

School closures off the table along with Christy Clark’s flip flops

The VSB’s $1.5 billion capital plan request to government all but takes school closures off the table, despite the district being governed by a B.C. Liberal government-appointed trustee