Carin Bondar (left), Teri Westerby and Richard Procee each wrote a farewell message in this month's Chilliwack Board of Education meeting package/agenda materials. (Image Credit: UFV; Teri Westerby; and Richard Procee.)
Chilliwack School District

Outgoing Chilliwack trustees offer farewell message to SD33, broader community

Oct 12, 2026 | 8:08 AM

CHILLIWACK – Three Chilliwack school board members who decided not to seek another term have shared farewell greetings and a message of gratitude to school district personnel and the community.

Carin Bondar, Richard Procee and Teri Westerby elected not to run in this month’s municipal election, which will feature 18 candidates running for seven positions on the Chilliwack Board of Education.

This month’s Chilliwack Board of Education meeting will likely be their last meeting as trustees. In this month’s meeting package, under the written trustee reports, Bondar said serving as a school trustee had been one of the great privileges of her life, touting her stance on advancing certain policies.

“I am particularly proud of helping advance policies and practices around inclusion, acceptance, transgender and 2SLGBTQ+ students, and Indigenous education and reconciliation—including supporting districtwide recognition of Indigenous Day,” Bondar wrote in a trustee report. “I am equally proud that, when faced with bullying and political pressure, I chose to stand firmly for integrity, respectful discourse, and good governance.”

She said she exits this chapter in her life with a renewed sense of gratitude.

“I have enormous respect for the dedicated people who serve our students every day, and I have learned as much about leadership by watching them as I have through my own work,” Bondar said. “Serving this community has taught me that meaningful change is built on courage, compassion, integrity and a willingness to listen. I leave this chapter deeply grateful for the experience and proud of the contributions I have made. Thank you, Chilliwack, thank you SD33!”

Teri Westerby shared similar sentiments during an introspective message to SD33 personnel.

“For the past four years, I have had a front-row seat to the care, complexity and responsibility that goes into public education in Chilliwack. I have learned that good governance is rarely about having the loudest voice in the room,” Westerby said. “It is about listening carefully, asking better questions, doing the homework, respecting the roles of the people around you and keeping students at the centre of every decision. There have been difficult moments, important conversations and times when we have not all seen things the same way. But I have also seen what is possible when people choose to work together. I am proud that, even through disagreement, this Board was often able to find common ground when it mattered most.”

Westerby said the past four years brought about personal change and a fresh sense of gratitude to everyone who makes local education possible.

“Most of all, I leave this role with enormous gratitude for our students, families, educators, staff, Indigenous partners, community members and everyone who gives so much of themselves to public education,” Westerby said. “Serving as a trustee has changed me. It has challenged me, taught me and reminded me again and again that leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about being willing to learn, to remain curious, and to use the responsibility you have been given with care. Thank you, Chilliwack, for trusting me with that responsibility. It has been one of the greatest honours of my life.”

Procee had a much shorter message but conveyed his gratitude to the Chilliwack School District for the opportunity to serve.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of our community who work hard to give students the opportunity to be informed, to be educated, and to be inspired,” Procee said. “Thank you for the dedication of all involved in School District 33. I appreciate the opportunity given to me to serve our community in a small way.”