BCA - Burnaby Citizens Association
Stephen Andrada is a Filipino-Canadian community leader passionate about education. A resident of Burnaby for 14 years, Stephen has appreciated the value of public education and is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to it with minimum barriers. With children who attended and graduated from Burnaby Public Schools, Stephen believes that public school education is the foundation of building skills for the future.
Stephen is currently active in the settlement and employment integration of newcomers and has advocated for low-barrier access to education and skills training. He holds a Master's in Management, a Bachelor's in Political Science and Economics from the University of the Philippines, and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Baguio. He is a PhD in Management Candidate from Saint Louis University-Philippines. Stephen is a proud parent who loves watching his boys play competitive and leisure volleyball.
Contact information
Website: burnaby-citizens.ca
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 778-862-8134
Social media
Instagram: @stephen4burnaby
Facebook: @Stephen Andrada
BCA - Burnaby Citizens Association
I’m an active community member, labour activist, and parent in Burnaby.
I believe a fully funded public education system is a critical pillar of every healthy society. I have honed my professional skills in advocacy, research, representation, and lobbying; working on projects that affect real, positive change in the lives of British Columbians, and I’m excited to apply those skills to the role of School Trustee.
I have a proven record in governance, building productive working relationships across industries and communities; including co-chairing the Education and Training Committee at Screen BC, supporting the Standing Committee on Artificial Intelligence and New Technology at the BCFED, representing residents on the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation, and Culture Committee, and chairing the USW 2009 Human Rights Committee.
As Trustee, I will fight for Burnaby schools, to ensure that education remains universally available, inclusive, and sustainable; providing quality equitable opportunities for all.
Contact information
Website: Burnaby-citizens.ca/candidates/hillary
Email: [email protected]
Social media
Instagram: @hillary4burnabyschools
Facebook: @Hillary Bergshoeff for Burnaby School Board
BCA - Burnaby Citizens Association
Bill Brassington is a second-term Burnaby School Trustee and previous School Board Chairperson. He has served on the District Community School Advisory Committee, the City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission, and the Transportation Committee, and chaired the School District's Audit Sub-Committee, work grounded in transparency and accountability.
As a parent of two Burnaby students, Bill knows how much neighbourhood schools matter to families and to the wider community. He has volunteered here for over 30 years, including as PAC Chairperson at his children's school, on the City's Sustainable City Advisory Committee, and as a coach with Hastings Community Little League and Burnaby Minor Softball.
He is seeking re-election to continue advocating for Burnaby families and teachers.
"Our children get one chance at school, and as a Burnaby parent, I want to ensure Burnaby schools focus on making our children feel safe, supported, and valued while they learn."
Contact information
Website: burnaby-citizens.ca
Email: [email protected]
Social media
Instagram: @burnabybill
Facebook: @BurnabyCA
Burnaby Green Party
Jen Jang, a third-generation Vancouverite and 20-year North Burnaby resident, is a parent and community advocate running for Burnaby School Trustee with the Burnaby Green Party.
As a parent, Jen has seen firsthand how overcrowding, budget cuts to counselling and other programs, and limited before-and-after school care impact families. Her child was in the final Grade 7 cohort to receive school-based band before the program was eliminated district-wide. The following year, overcrowding led to a five-period day at secondary school.
Jen is President and Treasurer of a multi-building strata community with 340+ homes, overseeing budgets, contracts, major projects and long-term planning. Her PAC involvement and community volunteering keep her connected to local concerns.
Living with an invisible disability has deepened Jen’s understanding of barriers others may not see and strengthened her commitment to inclusive schools.
Jen brings practical judgment, empathy and collaborative leadership to decisions shaping students’ opportunities and well-being.
Contact information
Website: burnabygreenparty.com
Email: [email protected]
Social media
Instagram: @jenjangburnaby
BCA - Burnaby Citizens Association
Paul Kwon is a Burnaby parent, public education advocate and school trustee candidate with the Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA). Paul has served as Chair of the Burnaby District Parent Advisory Council and volunteers as a basketball and volleyball coach. Through this work, he has seen how school decisions affect students, families and staff.
Paul wants every student to have the support they need to learn and belong. His priorities are protecting student supports, planning school space as Burnaby grows, and making budget decisions openly and responsibly.
Paul works in finance at UBC and serves on SFU Senate. His community service includes Burnaby Family Life and the Burnaby Community Heritage Commission.
Paul and the BCA team will work for strong, inclusive public schools. He will listen carefully, ask practical questions and keep decisions connected to the people they affect.
Contact information
Website: burnaby-citizens.ca
Email: [email protected]
Social media
Instagram: @paulkwonburnaby
Facebook: @paulkwonburnaby
BCA - Burnaby Citizens Association
Jen Mezei is seeking re-election to a third term as School Trustee. Jen and her husband have lived in Burnaby for 24 years, raising three children and operating businesses in the renewable energy sector. A respected education advocate for two decades, Jen began as a parent of children with autism, before roles as Burnaby DPAC Chair (5 years) and BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils President.
As former Chair, and current Vice Chair of the Burnaby Board of Education, Jen has focused on improving transparency in governance & policy, equitable funding for Burnaby schools, supporting diverse learning needs, and inclusive education.
As trustee, Jen continues tireless advocacy provincially, including 3 years as BC School Trustees Association Director (BCSTA), and 6 years as English Language Learners (ELL) Consortium Chair, championing equitable access for students with disabilities, supporting vulnerable learners, and bringing the needs of Burnaby students and families to the forefront.
Contact information
Website: burnaby-citizens.ca
Email: [email protected]
Social media
Instagram: @burnaby-citizens
Facebook: @BurnabyCA
Burnaby Green Party
Jasmine Nicholsfigueiredo is a parent, teacher, community leader, and proud 25-year resident of Burnaby North.
As a School Trustee, Jasmine's priorities would include supporting students with diverse learning needs, strengthening mental health supports, continuing the greening of schools, restoring grade 7 band, and promoting safe, inclusive schools.
An advocate for public education and working people, Jasmine has represented faculty and staff as President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC and in leadership roles with the Douglas College Union. Her commitment to public education and workers' rights has earned her the endorsement of the New Westminster & District Labour Council for the Burnaby election.
Jasmine is running for School Trustee because she believes every child deserves a high-quality public education in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment.
Jasmine will bring experienced leadership, informed decision-making, and a collaborative approach to serving students, families, and educators in the Burnaby School District.
Contact information
Website: burnabygreenparty.com
Email: [email protected]
Social media
Instagram: @jasmine4bby
Facebook: @jnicholsfigueiredo
LinkedIn: @Dr. Jasmine Nicholsfigueiredo
I am a dedicated community member with a heart for service. As a wife, mother of two, and grandmother, I have navigated the unique journey of raising a child diagnosed with autism at age five, which has deeply shaped my empathy and patience.
For six years, I have served as a Lunch Hour Supervisor at School District 41, creating a nurturing space for students. My commitment to children also includes seven years managing a specialized hot lunch program for students with learning difficulties.
In my community, I have served as a Council Member at Large for three years, managing strata budgets with care. Additionally, my seven years as a Girl Guide leader has allowed me to mentor young people and grow as a leader. I'm seeking a role that values my administrative skills, financial care, and genuine commitment to helping families.
Contact information
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 778-828-4171
BCA - Burnaby Citizens Association
Kristin Schnider has been a dedicated advocate for public education for more than a decade. A Burnaby resident for over 20 years, she lives with her husband, David, and three children and is honoured to be seeking re-election as a School Trustee with the BCA.
Kristin is a current Trustee and Chair of the Burnaby Board of Education. In this role, she focuses on equitable funding for public education, strengthening the community school model, championing accessible childcare, and fostering inclusion in Burnaby’s diverse school community.
Professionally, Kristin works in communications for the Public Service Alliance of Canada, bringing valuable experience in advocacy and public policy.
As a parent of students in the District and a former Burnaby District Parent Advisory Council chair, Kristin brings lived experience and proven leadership. She is deeply committed to her community and will continue working to support students, staff, families, and public education.
Contact information
Website: burnaby-citizens.ca
Email: [email protected]
Social media
Instagram: @kristinschnider
Facebook: @BurnabyCA
Restore Burnaby Alliance
My name is Benita Sun, I have lived in Burnaby for 20 years. I ran a family daycare for 10 years and gained experience caring for children. I later worked in customer service, where I learned to listen and serve the community.
As a parent, my child attended Burnaby elementary and high school and started their first year at SFU this September. This experience has given me a clear understanding of our public school system.
My priority is putting students first. I support quality education and student safety . All students deserve to be healthy, safe, and supported. I strongly oppose drugs and harmful experiments that put children at risk.
As a School Trustee, I will listen to parents, students, and educators, I will strengthen school-family partnerships, empower parents, and bring families' voices to the Board. I will work for support for Burnaby students.
Thank you!
Contact information
Website: restoreburnaby.ca
Email: [email protected]
Social media
Instagram: @restoreburnaby
Facebook: @restoreburnaby
Restore Burnaby Alliance
Daisy Wei is an educator, early childhood education leader, and small-business owner with more than 15 years of experience working with children, families, and educators. As the founder and director of ACG Academy Early Learning Centre, she understands how education decisions affect students, teachers, families, and the wider community.
Daisy is committed to putting students first, supporting teachers, and strengthening trust between families and schools. She believes every student deserves a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment, quality education, and meaningful opportunities to succeed.
Her priorities: Student well-being; Quality education; Transparency and accountability; Strong partnerships among schools, families, and the community.
With hands-on experience managing staff, programs, licensing, budgets, and family concerns, Daisy brings a practical, front-line perspective to education leadership.
She will listen, communicate openly, and advocate for responsible decisions that meet the real needs of Burnaby students and families.
Contact information
Website: restoreburnaby.ca
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 778-955-7181
Restore Burnaby Alliance
John Wong settled in Burnaby at the early 1990s and attended secondary at Burnaby Central and further graduated from the University of British Columbia and a master’s degree at CUHK in engineering.
He served as a training officer for the Sea Cadets while working aboard and is currently on the standing board of the Navy League in Lower Mainland. He had experience of youth leadership and development, earned qualifications from his cadet instruction experience, in particular managing young people.
He understands from first-hand experience; a well-rounded individual is shaped not only by academics alone but by comprehensive, objective training that builds character, resilience, and ability to work with others.
Professionally, John brings combination of multinational technology companies; he led initiatives working with technology startups and project management.
John Wong is suggesting innovation in our education systems with practicality instead of ideology. He believes school boards need authentic, family-centered perspectives
Contact information
Website: restoreburnaby.ca
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 778-801-9723
Social media
Instagram: @restoreburnaby
Facebook: @restoreburnaby
New Burnaby Party
As a proud Burnaby resident for over 20 years with a background in Industrial Design and Computer Systems, I am running for School Trustee with New Burnaby Party to champion safety, equity and long-term student success across all our public schools. My dedicated local community involvement includes serving as an active UI/UX judge for the BC Technovation Girls program, building accessible digital platforms for local youth-led non-profits, and volunteering with the annual Burnaby Lake Run. If elected, I intend to work collaboratively with parents, educators, and community members to deliver on three core platform policies: strengthening practical legal and civic literacy alongside proactive substance abuse prevention for real-world student safety; redirecting targeted district resources directly to Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) to fund immediate, school specific needs; and expanding equitable student access to recognized STEM competitions, coding initiatives, and modern robotics programs across every single neighborhood in Burnaby.
Contact information
Website: newburnaby.ca
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 778-896-2333
Social media
Instagram: @hainixiao_newburnaby
Facebook: @haini.xiaobby
Hello fellow Burnabarians! My name is Jenny Yamagata. I’m 12th Generation Canadian and have lived in Burnaby with my husband and three children for 15 years.
I'm passionate about advocating for youth. The well-being of our children is my priority: from meeting with the mayor about implementing traffic calming in Forest Grove, to presenting to Council on improving street safety around Sperling Elementary. I volunteered with Burnaby Wildcats and spent six years as a Girl Guide Leader.
Having experienced the frustrations in dealing with the school district while my son struggled without supports he was entitled to, I will ensure all students have equitable access to education. I plan to improve mental health supports and revitalize Grade 7 band.
As a trustee, I aim to reinstate fiscal responsibility, working with honesty and integrity. As an independent candidate, I'm a strong voice accountable to the people, not a party.
Contact information
Email: [email protected]
Restore Burnaby Alliance
Angel Yeh is an early childhood educator who is passionate about children’s well-being, belonging, and learning. Through her experience working with children, families, teachers, and the community, Angel understands the importance of strong relationships and inclusive learning environments where every child feels safe, respected, and valued.
As a Burnaby community member, Angel believes students, families, teachers, schools, and the community should work together to support children’s success. She is committed to listening, communicating openly, and building trust with families and educators.
Angel believes every child should have opportunities to develop a positive personal and cultural identity, while learning to respect and appreciate the diverse cultures and experiences that make Burnaby a strong community.
Her priority is to put children first, strengthen belonging, and support a caring, inclusive, and connected education system for all Burnaby students.
Contact information
Website: restoreburnaby.ca
Email: [email protected]
Social media
Instagram: @restoreburnaby
Facebook: @restoreburnaby
BCA - Burnaby Citizens Association
Colin Zuo is a Burnaby community leader and public education advocate committed to strong, accountable and well-funded public schools.
Having served on the Board of Governors of Vancouver Community College (VCC), Colin brings firsthand experience in education governance, budgeting, accountability and responsible stewardship of public resources. Endorsed by the New Westminster & District Labour Council (NWDLC), Colin is active across Burnaby’s diverse communities. Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, he volunteers with local organizations and supports community initiatives such as Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue (USAR).
Colin believes every student deserves to feel safe, included and supported. He will advocate for predictable provincial funding that protects frontline classroom supports, responsible investment in the schools Burnaby needs as our city grows, and opportunities that prepare students for a changing world, while bringing students, families, teachers, staff, government and community partners together to strengthen public education.
Contact information
Website: burnaby-citizens.ca
Email: [email protected]
Social media
Instagram: @colinzuo4burnaby