Concerns about candidate residency, fiscal accountability and transparency of school board matters topped the agenda at an all candidates' meeting held by the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce.
But they weren't the most popular questions candidates dealt with at last night's meeting at Terry Fox secondary school in Port Coquitlam.
In fact, three of the most popular questions at the forum which invited public questions via the Pigeonhole Live platform have not been issues at all in the current civic election.
However, one got a fiery response and a hearty applause from the audience.
It was a question about whether SD43 would adopt an anti-homophobia policy similar to ones in other B.C. school districts to address discrimination against LGBT students, and Coquitlam candidate Rob Bottos was one of the most vehement in his support for a similar policy being adopted here.
"Any policy that saves a child's life and stops them from being bullied, I'm in favor of," said Bottos, who admitted to being bullied "mercilessly" when he was a child growing up and suffering from Tourette's syndrome.
Three other Coquitlam candidates who were asked this question - the first of the night because it garnered the most votes - also promised to strengthen Policy 18 prohibiting violence, intimidation and possession of weapons policy. The policy doesn't mention LGBT students specifically but insists on sensitivity and respect of all individuals.
"It could be timely to look at that," said Gail Alty, an incumbent who is running for school trustee in Coquitlam.
Carol Cahoon, who is also running in the city, also agreed to look into it further, "updating it to the current time and what's happening in the world today."
Chuck Denison, current District Parent Advisory Council president, said the topic has been controversial at the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, but said that resources should be available to school councillors to ensure that students are safe.
"On a broader scale it's about accepting people's differences. In general, we do a fairly decent job of that in this district, but we need to ask this more directly."
The issue is similar to one raised in Burnaby during this election. In that district, schools have a policy, which seeks among other things, to promote an "attitude of respect and safety regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity". It also seeks to "improve understanding of the lives of LGBTQ people and their positive contributions to society."
Policy 545 has generated a lot of controversy in Burnaby, including during the recent election, but there hasn't been any move to update SD43's policy 18, which Alty said was put into affect in 1996 after a lot of discussion with stakeholder groups.
Prior to the meeting, Coquitlam candidates had been asked a similar question via emails sent from a local resident. The resident, Kane Wang, said he asked the question because of concerns about the Burnaby policy.
Two other online questions received more votes than any other, one was removed because it was similar to the LGBTQ policy question, and the other asked if the district's Confucius Institute should be eliminated.
The questions garnered hundreds of votes.
In all the chamber's all candidate format has generate a lot of interest. As many as 1,403 participants had signed on to Pigeonhole Live by Thursday noon.
Tonight, at 7 p.m. Coquitlam councillors will have their chance to participate in a chamber-run all candidates meeting. It is taking place at Evergreen Cultural Centre. To ask a question, visit phlive.at (code:CHAMBER)
To see Wednesday's school board all candidate's meeting, visit here.
