Nurse and union activist Nicole Trudeau seeks Maple Ridge school trustee seat

Nicole Trudeau, a Métis licensed practical nurse, union activist and mother, is seeking one of five school trustee positions representing Maple Ridge. She says her priorities include student retention, supporting the people who support students, creating meaningful opportunities for every learner and ensuring families have a strong voice in decisions affecting them.

Trudeau said her experience in SD42, first as a student and later as a parent from kindergarten through Grade 8, has shown her both where schools are succeeding and where students and families can fall through the cracks. Student mental health and well-being are central priorities for her. Through her professional work in mental health advocacy, she has seen how service gaps, staffing pressures and limited resources affect individuals, families and communities. She says she will advocate for prevention, early intervention and timely access to appropriate supports for students and staff.

Drawing on her experience in Indigenous leadership, Trudeau said she wants to support meaningful Indigenous education and continued relationship-building with Indigenous communities. She also wants schools to be inclusive of Indigenous students, 2SLGBTQIA+ students, neurodivergent learners and students from all backgrounds and cultures.

Her health-care experience, she said, has underscored the importance of advocating for frontline workers, workplace safety and directing resources where they are needed most. Trudeau said she would listen to students, parents and educators, seek accountable decisions on resources and priorities, and support a transparent school district focused on student learning and well-being.

General election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.