Candidates for those in N/A English Public Trustee (Waterloo/Wilmot)

Waterloo Region District School Board (English Public) - Waterloo/Wilmot

(Elect 3; vote for up to 3)

School Board Trustees set policies for their school board, provide oversight of the board’s Director of Education, and serve as community advocates for education.

There are four school boards in Waterloo Region. You will vote for trustees in one board. Learn more on the School Trustee Information page.

Candidates

Election Results

Candidate

Votes

Kathleen Woodcock

11779

Karen Coviello

9224

Brian Best

8748

Cristina Bairos Fernandes

5754

Brian Bourke (Withdrawn)

3996

Geoff Horsman

3766

Clinton Heffernan

3705

Cristina Bairos Fernandes

www.cfernandes.ca

cristina.bf@pm.me

519-571-4942

Brian Best

www.best4schoolboard.com

brian@best4schoolboard.com

Candidate withdrawn

Questionnaires

Advocacy groups often publish questionnaires that allow you to compare candidates side by side. Pay careful attention to how questions are framed, and how this reflects the positions and philosophies of the advocacy groups.

Waterloo Region District School Board trustee candidates share their top issues in this municipal election, CBC, October 20, 2026.
2026 Municipal election: Waterloo Region District School Board trustee candidates, CTV, October 13, 2026.
Campaign Life Coalition Survey - Waterloo Region District School Board - Waterloo-Wilmot , Campaign Life Coalition, September 29, 2026.
Spectrum 2026 Election Survey - Waterloo Responses, Spectrum, September 28, 2026.

Articles and News Items

Articles can highlight issues of importance to the election and the electorate. These items are (mostly) published by established news organizations.

Waterloo, Wilmot school board trustee candidate ends campaign, Waterloo Region Record, October 15, 2026.
Why some Waterloo region candidates who withdrew from municipal election are still on ballot, CBC, October 11, 2026.
Brian Bourke Withdrawal Statement, Brian Bourke, October 2, 2026.

Major turnover at Waterloo Region District School Board as three-quarters of trustees exit after four turbulent years, Waterloo Region Record, August 31, 2026.
Ontario education minister to make decision on school trustee elimination in early 2026, CBC, December 5, 2025.

Candidate Profiles

Candidate profiles allow you to read responses from different candidates side by side. They allow you to compare candidates based on their backgrounds and experiences. Often they will not tell you how candidates would address specific issues.

Meet The Candidate – Cristina Bairos Fernandes, Waterloo and Wilmot candidate for WRDSB Trustee, CKMS-FM, October 22, 2026.
Meet The Candidate – Geoffrey Horsman, Waterloo candidate for WRDSB Trustee, CKMS-FM, October 21, 2026.
Vote October 26: Cristina Bairos Fernandes, School Board Trustee, Waterloo-Wilmot | Interview, Farwell Between Shows, October 21, 2026.

Vote October 26: Geoff Horsman, School Board Trustee, Waterloo-Wilmot | Candidate Interview, Farwell Between Shows, October 21, 2026.
Vote October 26: Carlene Hawley, School Board Trustee, Woolwich-Wellesley | Candidate Interview , Farwell Between Shows, October 21, 2026.
Vote October 26: Clinton Heffernan, School Board Trustee, Waterloo-Wilmot | Candidate Interview, Farwell Between Shows, October 21, 2026.
Vote October 26: Karen Coviello, School Board Trustee, Waterloo-Wilmot | Candidate Interview, Farwell Between Shows, October 16, 2026.
Vote October 26: Kathleen Woodcock, Public School Board Trustee, Waterloo-Wilmont | Interview , Farwell Between Shows, October 12, 2026.

Opinions, Endorsements, and Group Discussions

Opinions, blog posts and discussions can be partisan, but sometimes can be helpful in bringing attention to election issues.

Sometimes discussions on forums like Reddit can give you a range of opinions about candidates and campaign issues.

Some opinions take the form of endorsement lists which explicitly recommend candidates to vote for. Again, be aware of the partisan nature of such endorsements, and carefully consider how the endorsers reached their conclusions. You will also want to look at our media inclusion philosophy page for information about what endorsements are officially allowed.

Campaign Life Coalition could win a majority on the Waterloo Region District School Board on Monday because the rest of us aren't watching , Reddit, October 25, 2026.
Trustees for Waterloo District School Board , Reddit, October 25, 2026.
List of PAFE's Endorsed Candidates for School Board Trustee (Public) , Parents as First Educators, October 24, 2026.
David Alton's Voter Guide - Waterloo, David Alton, October 14, 2026.

Waterloo Region’s school board races are … wild, Waterloo Region Record, October 13, 2026.
Municipal Election 2026: Some thoughts and resources for voting in this month’s elections, Citified, October 9, 2026.
Together In Education Recommendations - Waterloo Region District School Board - Waterloo/Wilmot, Together in Education, October 8, 2026.
The Council Round-Up (July 2026) (see "School board updates"), Citified, July 30, 2026.