Chilliwack – In January 2025, FVN reported that: There are three confirmed candidates for the by-election for Chilliwack School Board Trustee.
The three candidates for the March 1 by-election are Katie Bartel, Laurie Throness and an 18 year old Unity Christian High School Student with a baseball pedigree.
From his Instagram page: Shane Kooyman. I will be running for the school board trustee position at my local school district 33 in the upcoming by-election.
A little about me I am a baseball player playing on the Chilliwack Cougars College Prep team. I am also a student attending high school here in Chilliwack. My goal as a trustee will be to depoliticize our education system so that our students can focus on learning. I hope to provide a fresh prospective on these complex issues as a lifetime resident in order to help make sure that our community is providing the best possible services to our students.
Putting Students First
Fast Forward to 2026 and the young Mr Kooyman will take a pass (for now) in running for public office: After talking to a couple trustees and giving much thought I have decided that I will not be running in this upcoming election. It is not that I have lost my priorities on Chilliwack and its students but rather I don’t think this is my time to run. I wish all candidates a good campaign and to all voters that we would deeply research who we vote for!
FVN interviewed Mr Kooyman in 2025: https://youtu.be/YVyYQaUMQw0?si=K79oDw3xnO7sdUaM
