Joyce Brinkerhoff

Background

Joyce Brinkerhoff is a retired English-as-a-second-language (ESL) teacher and former business owner, and a former School District No. 23 (SD23) trustee, having served from 2011 to 2014.

• joycefortrustee.ca https://joycefortrustee.ca

The City of Kelowna's official candidate list records her name as "Joyce Helen Brinkerhoff"; she campaigns, and is registered with Elections BC, as "Joyce Brinkerhoff."

She is the co-founder and president of Global Citizen Events, which runs community initiatives including Taste of Home and The Global Schoolhouse, and has been a YWCA Women of Distinction finalist. Her campaign site lists board and advisory roles with several local organizations, including the Society of Hope and the Kairos Foundation.

• joycefortrustee.ca https://joycefortrustee.ca

2026 Campaign

Brinkerhoff is running for one of the four school-trustee seats on the Kelowna ballot. Her campaign website is joycefortrustee.ca, and she campaigns on Facebook as "Joyce4Trustee."

Her stated platform has four pillars: "Flourishing Students & Practical Pathways" (welcoming classrooms, mental-health supports, financial literacy, and practical career pathways through post-secondary and business partnerships); "Collaborative Leadership" (early and ongoing engagement with parents, teachers, support staff, and Indigenous leadership); "Classroom-First Stewardship" (frontline learning first and provincial advocacy for fair per-pupil funding); and "Excellence & Choice" (academic achievement, life skills, and support for French Immersion and vocational partnerships).

• joycefortrustee.ca https://joycefortrustee.ca

2021 byelection

During her 2021 SD23 trustee byelection campaign, Brinkerhoff spoke at New Life Church — a CRA-registered charity — whose senior pastor appeared alongside her and whose Facebook page urged congregants to support her bid. She told the congregation: "If we stand for what we believe in — family values and parents' rights… then you need to vote." Her opponent Wayne Broughton and his financial agent alleged the church's actions violated CRA rules against charities supporting political candidates; the pastor denied endorsing a candidate and said the Facebook post was made in error, and Brinkerhoff said she and the church had done nothing wrong. CBC reported she did not directly ask attendees to vote for her, and a charities lawyer quoted by CBC said it was unclear whether the CRA rule applies to school trustee candidates.

• CBC, June 18, 2021 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kelowna-new-life-church-joyce-brinkerhoff-charities-law-1.6072336

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Questionnaire responses

Answers to the standardized Kelowna Elections questionnaire, sent in identical form to every school trustee candidate. Published verbatim; received 2026-09-22.

1. Student learning & wellbeing

’Together we learn’ is SD#23’s motto and my priority to utilize as the ’how to’ in improving student learning and wellbeing. Data-driven evaluation at all levels will give a baseline for where we currently are and the incentive/impetus to improve and grow.

2. Growth & school space

In an economically challenged provincial economy and recognizing that some school districts are even more pressed than our own, and that we have been successful in securing a couple of new schools and upgrades, I believe it is unrealistic to expect much capital funding from the Ministry at this time. However, I will join fellow trustees in continually pressing our local representatives for the needed investments in our children.

3. Safe & inclusive schools

I believe working together on common goals while depending on the diverse giftings of each student — builds community. Resources which open discussions of mutual respect and understanding rather than fearing the unknown can help children feel safe and welcome.

4. Support for students who need more

Schools need to provide an atmosphere where everyone can thrive through using their diverse learning styles — designing flexible learning environments, materials, and assessments that work for everyone. The challenge is to find agreement on what those are for each individual student and how to fund it!

5. Budget & funding

As I have been away from the Board table for some time, I am not sure what would be the priority — aside from being student-focused. I would press, however, for less Ministry-designated funding so we would have more freedom to address local priorities.

6. Indigenous education & reconciliation

I think the most important role can play is that we are authentic in our efforts – not tokenism but genuine interest in local history and culture and demonstrating gratefulness for the privilege afforded us to live on this beautiful land!

7. The trustee’s role

Trustees are ’trusted’ by the community to be their representative — The community is made up of parents concerned about their children, students who have the ear of their parents and teachers and staff who have specialized training to serve student needs so if all those voices are not adequately heard, the trustees have failed in their trustworthiness.