Image: Submitted

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Abbotsford school board by-election

Dedicated volunteer, longtime customer service manager to run in Abbotsford school board by-election

Sep 8, 2025 | 6:36 AM

ABBOTSFORD — One of Abbotsford School District’s long-serving volunteers who has been lauded for her service to the school district says she will run in next month’s by-election to fill an open seat on the school board.

Tanya Coghill, who was chosen as the 2023 recipient of the Abbotsford Board of Education’s annual Community Matters Award, and selected as a Hero in Education in the Abbotsford News for her significant contribution to our schools, has qualified to run in the October 11th by-election.

Born and raised in Abbotsford, married for 29 years and counting, and mother of two, Coghill has been involved in the community for decades in leadership roles with local sports organizations, the Children’s Ministry at Central Heights Church, Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) at the schools where her children attended, the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC), developing a presentation that advocates for gender equity and highlights the experience of the girls in our educational system, and, most recently, supporting, teaching, and modeling leadership for a wide portfolio of school parent groups in the district.

Coghill says even though her children graduated and moved on to university, she continues to lend her leadership to ever changing roles. In 2022 she took on the unique experience of helping to open Abbotsford’s newest school, Irene Kelleher Totí:ltawtxw.

“That year was busy. There was so much work to do, and we were exhausted, pulling some 15-hour days right before we opened, but it was amazing and so rewarding to be a part of everything that went into opening a brand new site,” Coghill recalls.

Police incident

Police presence surrounds Hope residence Sunday night

26m ago

Overnight detours on Highway 1

Highway 1 detours through Langley for the next 3 weeks will begin this Tuesday: B.C. govt.

1h ago

Wind warning

Wind warning in effect for the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt, Crowsnest east of Hope

1h ago

From unpacking boxes and setting up classrooms, to coordinating volunteers, organizing the new PAC and handwriting library cards for every student, she was there with her motto of ‘Serving With Joy’. Coghill says she has worked to support schools, mentor PACs, share techniques and implement strategies across elementary, middle and secondary campuses.

She credits her 35-year career in customer service management for refining her ability to connect with people of all backgrounds and lived experiences, and relishes getting to know the people she supports in the district. Tanya encourages parents to be partners in education.

She also wants “every student who enters our buildings to feel welcomed, safe, and accepted for who they are.”

Given her extensive time volunteering, and depth of knowledge about the school system, Coghill recognizes the complexity of the ever changing educational landscape:

“I’ve been very involved in sharing the board’s strategic plans and the district budget with the school planning councils and PACs that I either represented over the years or am mentoring now, and know full well the financial obstacles at both individual school and district levels.”

She added, “We are facing more than budget challenges. Other factors including staffing shortages, catchment issues, and losing key roles like PE specialists in the middle schools or not having daytime custodial at the elementary level, are making things difficult for our administrators, teachers and support staff.”

Tanya has been around for the district adjustments for nearly two decades, and says she is excited to see the new leadership making immediate changes that have positively impacted the team.

“A happy staff means happy students,” Coghill notes, “And I am excited to see key steps being taken to create an environment that will attract and retain quality leadership and employees. I would love to be a part of rebuilding that culture in collaboration with the district’s management, students, parents and staff – because we are stronger together.”

You can connect with Tanya through her email, coghilltanya@gmail.com, or on her webpage at tanyacoghill.ca.

Advance voting dates will be held on Wednesday, October 1 and Saturday, October 4.