James Rowley

On October 17, 2026  ·  Elect

JamesRowleyFor Pitt Meadows School Trustee

Our kids. Our kids’ futures. Our future. In safe spaces, kids can be themselves and learn.

My priorities Support the campaign
Professional portrait of James Rowley in a blue shirt and charcoal blazer.

James Rowley, at a glance

16years teaching newcomers at ISSofBC

19,000Hammond Neighbours members, group started 2013

2kids graduated from SD42

1923heritage home, now zero-carbon

Make your voting plan

· 8am–8pm

Election Day locations

Polling stations are open 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. on general voting day.

  • Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre12027 Harris Road
  • Pitt Meadows Heritage Hall12460 Harris Road
  • South Bonson Community Centre10932 Barnston View Road

Advance voting

All advance voting is at City Hall, 12007 Harris Road.

  • 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

My priorities

Five commitments and one bonus plank, marked like your ballot on October 17.

Appropriate provincial funding

Reform the per-student funding model so it reflects the real diversity of needs in a classroom — with many voices, united.

Mental health & SOGI supports

In safe spaces, kids can be themselves and learn — with the mental health supports behind them to make that real.

Walking School Buses & Bike Buses

Planned routes with trained adult leaders — a funded pilot is already starting at two SD42 schools.

Improved on-site childcare

More childcare on school grounds, for Pitt Meadows families.

Indigenous Reconciliation

Keep Reconciliation present in SD42 every day — in the spirit of the Reconciliation Awareness LINC Lessons James helped to create.

The bonus plank: greener school buildings

Build the new Pitt Meadows Secondary green — provincial and federal funding can cut emissions and heating costs, freeing energy dollars for future budgets.

Out in the community

Eight photos — use the arrows or tap any photo for the story behind it.Eight photos from around the community.

James Rowley on his e-bike wearing an Every Child Matters t-shirt.

Reconciliation and active transportation in one frame — James rides more and more, and he wears the orange shirt because Every Child Matters isn’t a one-day-a-year message.

 James Rowley in front of his solar-paneled 1923 heritage home.

The 1923 craftsman cottage James’s family is retrofitting to zero emissions — winner of a Heritage BC Award for outstanding conservation and Canadian Geographic’s Live Net Zero contest. The same thinking he’ll bring to the new Pitt Meadows Secondary build.

 James Rowley on stage in costume with the Bard on the Bandstand Shakespeare cast.

Summer Shakespeare in Spirit Square and Maple Ridge — the whole family rattles off the Bard together. It’s why arts in schools is personal for James.

 James Rowley’s family at a School District 42 graduation ceremony.

Both kids graduated from School District 42. James knows the district’s strengths — and its limits — the way only a parent can.

 James Rowley volunteering with the Repair Café Maple Ridge team.

“Bring us your broken stuff!” — fixing things at Repair Café Maple Ridge and keeping them out of the landfill. Community, hands-on.

 James Rowley with two ISSofBC colleagues at the launch of the Reconciliation Awareness LINC Lessons.

In 2024 James, as a curriculum writer, helped create these national lessons with Indigenous City Media and Kory Wilson — connecting newcomers with Indigenous voices all across these lands.

Note that this is not an ISSofBC endorsement of James’ candidacy.

 James Rowley cycling through the Car Free Day arch.

Cycling through the arch at Car Free Day — the same energy behind his push for Walking School Buses and Bike Buses in Pitt Meadows schools.

 James Rowley’s family with backpacks on the West Coast Trail.

The family completed the West Coast Trail in 2024. Healthy, confident kids are what all of this is for.

Why School Board?

My name is James Rowley and now that both my kids have graduated from School District 42, it’s time for me to give back. Our experience as a family showed me the value of past decisions made by caring and passionate school trustees — and also the challenges our system is facing now. This is a team I would be honoured to join. This is work I would be proud to do.

In my own family’s experience in SD42, we have seen the advantages of diverse and innovative programming such as Montessori, Cyber School, International Baccalaureate, Interdisciplinary Arts and the trades programs. I have worked alongside incredible educators and staff who made a profound difference in my kids’ lives. We also collided with the limitations of the system as we struggled to meet the mental health needs of our kids. I know we can do better.

I believe in evidence-based decision-making and ensuring that all voices are heard.

I’m asking for your vote to serve as one of two trustees representing Pitt Meadows on the Board of Education for School District 42 — a positive, collaborative and progressive voice so we can capitalize on opportunities and address challenges.

The challenges

Funding for public education in BC is simply not keeping pace with inflation and the ever more complex needs of kids and families. The per-student funding model doesn’t adequately adjust to the diversity of needs in a given classroom. Our biggest challenge is meeting the health, mental health and educational needs of kids from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in buildings designed 40 years ago.

The opportunities

It’s an exciting time in Pitt Meadows: a new Pitt Meadows Secondary replacement project is underway, and exterior renovations are happening at École Pitt Meadows Elementary. As the owner of a zero-carbon home, I’ll look for provincial and federal funding to employ green building techniques — reducing emissions and freeing up energy dollars for future budgets. And I’d love to see Walking School Buses and Bike Buses come to Pitt Meadows schools.

Pitt Meadows is special to me

I know Spirit Square because my family and I have performed summer Shakespeare there many times with Bard on the Bandstand. I know Pitt Meadows Secondary because my wife and I brought a collaborative theatre piece called “Just Us” there in 2014 — workshopped and created with SD42 students, exploring racism and bullying in our schools.

Why Pitt Meadows?

I’ll be honest — I was planning to run in Maple Ridge. Then I met great candidates running there, and nobody seemed to be stepping up for Pitt Meadows. We need a good mix of experience and perspectives on our school board, but there are people whose ideology is not compatible with good governance. A sad example of this played out on the Chilliwack Board of Education not long ago. I’m stepping up to be a reasonable, collaborative voice — because what I can’t accept is sitting back and letting a truly toxic candidate be acclaimed without contest.

On October 17, 2026, I’m asking for your vote

My name is James Rowley, and on Saturday October 17th I’m asking for your vote for Pitt Meadows School Trustee. Here is exactly where to go.

Vote early

Pitt Meadows City Hall

12007 Harris Road


  • 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday to Friday, –
    8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Get directions (opens in a new tab)

Add voting day to my calendar

Dates, times and locations are set by the City of Pitt Meadows. Please check pittmeadows.ca (opens in a new tab) for anything official, including voter ID requirements.