Image: Heather Maahs / Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs has submitted her resignation as the current longest-serving member of the Chilliwack Board of Education.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack School District

Chilliwack school board trustee bids farewell

Dec 2, 2024 | 11:54 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs has submitted her resignation as the current longest-serving member of the Chilliwack Board of Education.

Maahs was resoundingly elected in October’s provincial election for Chilliwack North with approximately 54 per cent of the vote, roughly 17 points ahead of the incumbent MLA.

In a statement to Fraser Valley Today, Maahs said it was a privilege to serve the community for over a decade on the Chilliwack school board.

“For the past sixteen years, it has been my honour and privilege to serve Chilliwack as a trustee on the Board of Education,” Maahs said. “I thank this community for putting your trust in me and giving me a voice at the board table. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know and witness many wonderful teachers, principals and staff throughout our district, who have taken such good care of the educational needs of children. Their dedication to this sacred trust is immeasurable.”

Maahs put her name forward as an MLA candidate after realizing the change she envisioned could be best achieved at a provincial level.

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“Over the last couple of years, I realized that the kind of change that was necessary to move the education system forward for the good of all students and their families was not attainable at the board table,” she said. “The ability to empower parents to make wise and important choices for their families and to enable boards to act in the best interests of all, needs to be addressed at the provincial level. So, I let my name stand as a candidate in the recent provincial election.”

As a result of winning her riding, Maahs said she’s all in as an MLA.

“Now, as a newly elected MLA, I am committed to working hard towards these goals. I am therefore resigning my seat on the Chilliwack Board of Education so I may focus on the job before me and make British Columbia a province that speaks up for families, celebrates our accomplishments, invests in small business and resources, and applies common sense decision making,” Maahs said. “Thank you, Chilliwack, for the honour and privilege of serving you!”