Image: M. Vanden Bosch / PML / Longtime Chilliwack educator and administrator hopes to capture one of seven school board seats in next month's municipal election.
Fall election

Longtime educator and former school principal to run for Chilliwack school board

Sep 21, 2022 | 6:00 AM

CHILLIWACK — Some candidates for public office in this fall’s municipal election don’t have a picture or a slogan on their signs.

For what’s it worth, Chilliwack resident and longtime educator and administrator Greg Nelmes has covered both bases rather visibly.

Either way, Nelmes has a pretty simple message for Chilliwack voters who might not have heard of him outside of school district circles.

“My motivation for running for school trustee is that the interests of students come first,” Nelmes said in an email to Fraser Valley Today. “Kids first and I want to be a part of a united Board that can disagree in camera but presents a united front to the media.”

Nelmes has an extensive history not only in Chilliwack but also in Chilliwack education.

He graduated from Sardis Secondary in June 1973 and completed his undergraduate education by virtue of a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from UBC in May 1977. Later, he completed his master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Victoria in August 1994.

His teaching career launched in September 1977 when he was a Grade 6/7 teacher at F.G. Leary Elementary, followed by four years at Vedder Elementary, two years at Robertson Elementary, four years at Sardis Elementary, and was vice-principal and a teacher at Tyson Elementary, Grade 5/6. He taught for seven more years before taking a teaching position as vice-principal at Vedder Elementary from 2005-07. He served as a principal at Rosedale Elementary from 2007-2010 and was later a principal at Bernard Elementary.

He previously was the Chilliwack-Hope riding association president for the Liberal Party of Canada.

Nelmes pledges to carefully consider all stakeholders in school board matters if elected.

“In short, I will listen carefully to all and make level-headed decisions,” Nelmes said in an email. “I am a team player!! I occupy the middle of the political spectrum.”