School Board · Vancouver 2026

Derrick O'Keefe

Elected, School Board72,639 votes, 4th of 31. Preliminary count, City of Vancouver. All results

COPE candidate for the School Board, ballot number 323.

Issue scores

4/10Schools
2/10Governance
1/10Taxes and budget
1/10Public safety
2/10Child care

Out of 10. Each score counts how complete and checkable the published plan is on that issue. Measured October 4, 2026. Rank this race by the issues you care about

Derrick O'Keefe, ballot number 323 for School Board in Vancouver, COPE. Profile focus: School funding and public assets.

Explore the record Public schedule

Researched by voche.me · Not a campaign-authored page

Derrick O'Keefe, published by the COPE campaign. — Derrick O'KeefeSchool BoardBallot no.323

Promise tracker

53 promises. What Derrick has done since.

Tracked since October 18, 2026. Every change of status links to the vote, motion or report behind it.

No action yetFully funded and safe schools as trusteeFunding · Own promise
As a trustee, insist on fully funded and safe schools with all the support and opportunities students need.
“I will insist on fully-funded and safe schools, equipped with all the support and opportunities our kids need and deserve.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: VoteMate: Derrick O'Keefe, COPE for Vancouver | 2026 BC Local Elections candidate profile (opens in a new tab), The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're Running (opens in a new tab).
No action yetMeals for every studentStudent services · Own promise
Bring in universal meal programmes in Vancouver schools.
“we need universal meal programs”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: School board team (opens in a new tab), COPE Vancouver: The COPE Team (opens in a new tab), The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're Running (opens in a new tab), COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF) (opens in a new tab), Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 5, October 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetChildcare families can affordChildcare · Own promise
Work for childcare that families can afford and get to.
“affordable and accessible childcare”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: School board team (opens in a new tab), COPE Vancouver: The COPE Team (opens in a new tab).
No action yetKeep school land in public handsPublic land · Own promise
Use public school land for community benefit and stop giveaways of public land to real estate speculators.
“I will make sure we don't allow any more giveaways of public land to real estate speculators and the billionaire class.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: VoteMate: Derrick O'Keefe, COPE for Vancouver | 2026 BC Local Elections candidate profile (opens in a new tab), COPE Vancouver: School board team (opens in a new tab), The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're Running (opens in a new tab), Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: Bluesky post on public school land (opens in a new tab), CBC News: After controversial land deal, Vancouver school's basketball courts are set to become rental housing (opens in a new tab), The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 4: Capacity Issues and Land-Use Policies (opens in a new tab).
No action yetStop cuts to school support staffEducation · Own promise
O'Keefe says he will work with his COPE colleagues to stop cuts to school support staff.
“I will fight to stop the cuts to school support staff”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're Running (opens in a new tab).
No action yetRestore a living wage for district workersEducation · Own promise
O'Keefe says COPE trustees will work to restore a living wage for school bus drivers and all other Vancouver School Board employees.
“restore a living wage for bus drivers and all VSB employees”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're Running (opens in a new tab), Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: Bluesky post on a living wage for school district workers (opens in a new tab).
No action yetPrevent school closuresEducation · Own promise
O'Keefe says he will work with his COPE colleagues to prevent school closures.
“prevent school closures”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're Running (opens in a new tab), The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 4: Capacity Issues and Land-Use Policies (opens in a new tab).
No action yetReverse cuts to student programs and supportsEducation · Own promise
An Instagram post shared by COPE, O'Keefe's campaign account and the other COPE trustee candidates says COPE trustees will work to reverse cuts to programs and supports for students.
“COPE trustees will lead the fight to reverse ABC cuts to programs and supports for students.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: @copevancouver and @okeefeforschoolboard on Instagram: Instagram collaboration post by COPE, O'Keefe and the other COPE trustee candidates, October 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab), COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF) (opens in a new tab), Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 6, October 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetPause student chatbots and audit AI use in district schoolsEducation · Own promise
O'Keefe's questionnaire answer says COPE's School Board candidates oppose the district's May 2026 introduction of Microsoft Copilot 13+, support a pause on chatbots and other generative AI tools for students, and will carry out an audit of AI use in the district with consultation of parents, educators, students and education partners.
“COPE School Board candidates support a pause on student-facing Chatbots and other Generative AI products, and pledge to conduct a VSB AI Audit which would include broad consultation with parents, educators, students, and education partners.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 2: Generative AI in Schools (opens in a new tab), Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 7, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab), Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: Bluesky post on AI chatbots in Vancouver classrooms, September 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab), Vote4Tomorrow: Derrick O'Keefe, School Board, Vancouver (answers to the Doctors for Planetary Health - West Coast climate questionnaire) (opens in a new tab).
No action yetAttend Board meetingsGovernance · Own promise
O'Keefe says he and the other COPE candidates will attend Board meetings.
“Here's an easy way we'll do a better job on the Board than ABC: we'll show up for meetings!”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: Bluesky post on attending Board meetings (opens in a new tab), Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: Bluesky post starting a list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board (opens in a new tab), Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: Bluesky post on attending meetings, September 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetClose the funding gap between private and public schoolsEducation · Own promise
O'Keefe says he is running to close the gap between funding for elite private schools and funding for the public system.
“to close the gap between funding for elite private schools and the public system we all depend on”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: @okeefeforschoolboard on Instagram: Instagram post on why he is running, September 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab), COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF) (opens in a new tab), VoteMate: Derrick O'Keefe, COPE for Vancouver | 2026 BC Local Elections candidate profile (opens in a new tab), Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 17, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetRestore the Britannia hockey academySchool programs · Own promise
In his answer to The Griffins' Nest questionnaire of October 8, 2026, O'Keefe wrote that if elected he will work with his COPE colleagues to reverse the Board's decision to pause the Britannia Hockey Academy and to restore it. He repeated the pledge on Bluesky on October 16, 2026.
“If elected, I will work with my COPE colleagues to reverse this decision and restore the hockey academy.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 3: Specialized District Programs (opens in a new tab), Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 11, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetKeep specialized district programs and check each one for fairnessSchool programs · Own promise
In the same answer, O'Keefe wrote that the district needs to keep specialized programs such as the Hamber Challenge Studio program, and that as a trustee he will always judge these programs by whether they are fair to students of every ability and learning need.
“As a Trustee, I will always evaluate specialized programs through an equity lens.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 3: Specialized District Programs (opens in a new tab).
No action yetLong-range planning for school buildings and landSchool planning · Own promise
Asked by The Griffins' Nest on October 16, 2026 how he would deal with crowded schools and the district's land, O'Keefe wrote that the district needs a long-range plan for its buildings and land, and that it should keep all its public land to meet the needs of public education as the City adds housing.
“I think we need a long-range approach to facilities planning and land management in the School District.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper): Candidates' Questionnaire Week 4: Capacity Issues and Land-Use Policies (opens in a new tab).
No action yetSupport all sustainability programs as a trusteeEnvironment · Own promise
In his answers to the climate questionnaire of Doctors for Planetary Health - West Coast, published by Vote4Tomorrow, O'Keefe wrote that as a trustee he will support all programs related to sustainability.
“As a School Trustee I will support all sustainability-related programs.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Vote4Tomorrow: Derrick O'Keefe, School Board, Vancouver (answers to the Doctors for Planetary Health - West Coast climate questionnaire) (opens in a new tab).
No action yetFree transit for young people up to age 18Transit · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 4, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will push to extend free transit, which is free today for children up to 12, to young people up to 18. The School Board does not set transit fares, so it can only ask for this.
“We'll fight to extend free transit for kids up to 12 all the way up to 18 yrs of age.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 4, October 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetPut classroom needs first in school fundingEducation funding · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 9, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE trustees will put funding for classroom needs first.
“We'll prioritize funding classroom needs and reverse ABC cuts to programs that provide support to vulnerable students like the safe and caring schools program.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 6, October 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetMore child care and youth programs in school buildingsChildcare · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will push to use school buildings more for before- and after-school child care, and for arts and sports programs for children and youth.
“We'll fight to expand the use school facilities for before and after-school childcare, and for child and youth-centred arts and sports programming.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 8, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetInvest in school gardens and let schools expand themFood and gardens · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will invest in school gardens and allow school communities to expand them.
“We'll invest in and allow school communities to expand school gardens.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 9, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetMaintain, upgrade and expand playfields and courts on school groundsSchool facilities · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will maintain, upgrade and expand sports fields and courts on school grounds, and will look at adding covered outdoor courts.
“Speaking of school grounds, we'll maintain, upgrade, and expand sports playfields and courts on school grounds.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 10, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetReverse cuts to elementary music, strings and band programsSchool programs · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will push to reverse the cuts to music, strings and band programs, and to music instruction hours, in elementary schools.
“We will fight to reverse the cuts to music, strings, and band programs and instruction hours at the elementary school level.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 12, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetPush the Province for more school funding and smaller classesEducation funding · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE trustees will campaign and push the Province for more public school funding and smaller classes.
“We'll campaign and push the Province for more public school funding and to reduce class sizes.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 14, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetMore open Board meetings and fewer private onesGovernance · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will push for openness at the Vancouver School Board by involving parents, students, unions, employees and the wider community in its decisions, with more open meetings and fewer private Board meetings.
“More open meetings, fewer private board meetings.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 15, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetPush back against attacks on sexual orientation and gender identity teachingEquity · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will always push back against attacks on teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
“COPE will always push back against attacks on sexual orientation and gender identity education in schools.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 16, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetAdvocate for more adult education programsEducation · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will advocate for ongoing support to increase adult education programs, and that school land and buildings should serve people's learning at every age.
“COPE will advocate for ongoing support to increase Adult Education programs.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 18, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetWork with the Park Board to share school and park facilitiesSchool facilities · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE's elected members will work closely together across the boards to make the most of public buildings and land, and that schools and the Park Board can coordinate more on the use of their facilities to offer more programs.
“Schools and Parks & Rec can be coordinating much more on facility use to deliver more programs.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 19, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetMake Board meetings easier for the public to join and speak atOpen governance at the School Board · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will make School Board meetings more accessible and welcoming to the public, and will encourage more people to speak at meetings, with more participation from parents and students.
“COPE will make School Board meetings more accessible and welcoming to stakeholders and to the general public.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 20, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetNew schools built as new neighbourhoods go upSchool planning · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will work to make sure all major new developments come with schools and other amenities, and that new schools are built when new neighbourhoods go up. He named Olympic Village as a neighbourhood where, he wrote, the school came a generation later.
“COPE will work to ensure that all major new developments come with schools and other amenities.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 21, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetRefuse to simply carry out spending cuts passed down by higher governmentsEducation funding · Own promise
On Bluesky on October 16, 2026, in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, O'Keefe wrote that COPE will refuse to simply carry out spending cuts passed down by higher levels of government, and will build support through public campaigns.
“COPE will refuse to simply administer austerity handed down from higher levels of govt.”
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky: post in his list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board, number 22, October 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetMake classrooms and services for students the first priorityEducation funding · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says its School Board team will make classrooms and services for students the first priority.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 20, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetA universal breakfast and lunch program for all VSB studentsFood security · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will create a universal school meal program for all Vancouver School Board students, so that no child is hungry, with breakfast and lunch.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 14, section 3.2 Make Groceries More Affordable, and page 20, section 3.7 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetUse school buildings for child care, arts and sports programs, and gardensChildcare · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will use school facilities for before- and after-school child care, for arts and sports programs for children and youth, and for school gardens. Its child care section adds faster growth of before- and after-school child care spaces at elementary schools.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 19, section 3.6 Keep Families in Vancouver, and page 20, section 3.7 (opens in a new tab).
No action yetReverse cuts to programs for vulnerable studentsSchool programs · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will reverse the ABC and Vancouver Liberal cuts to programs that support vulnerable students, naming the Safe and Caring Schools program and the Britannia hockey academy.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 20, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetPress the Province for more money and faster approval of school buildsSchool facilities · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will demand that the provincial government give more funding and approve faster builds for schools that need repair or replacement, and for neighbourhoods that need new schools.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 20, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetRenewable energy in all new school builds and major renovationsSchool facilities · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will require renewable energy sources in all new school builds and major renovations.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 20, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetAn urgent action plan for seismic and air quality upgradesSchool facilities · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will carry out an urgent action plan for seismic upgrades and air quality upgrades in schools.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 20, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetFund school mental health counsellors in place of school liaison officersStudent well-being · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will put student safety and well-being first by funding school mental health counsellors in place of school liaison officers, the police officers assigned to schools.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 20, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetPress the Province for more school funding and smaller classesEducation funding · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will push the Province for more public school funding, to reduce class sizes and to back tuition-free adult basic education programs.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 20, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetKeep school land public and use it for the publicSchool lands · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will treat school properties as public land, protect them and use them for public benefit, and will not sell them off to cover budget shortfalls.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 20, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetOpen, live-streamed Board meetings where the public can ask questionsOpen governance at the School Board · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will bring parents, students, unions, employees and the wider community into Board decisions through open, moderated, live-streamed meetings that allow questions from the public.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetTown halls and a budget process the public takes part inOpen governance at the School Board · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will hold town halls and brainstorming sessions and run participatory budget processes, in which the public helps decide parts of the Board's budget.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetOpen and ongoing oversight of the SuperintendentGovernance · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will provide transparent and ongoing oversight of the Superintendent, the one employee who reports directly to the trustees.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetRegular reviews of Board governance and operating policiesGovernance · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will carry out regular reviews of governance and operational policies so that elected trustees have more power to make decisions on public education.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetFewer private Board meetingsOpen governance at the School Board · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will hold fewer private Board meetings.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetProperly fund inclusive educationStudent support · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will properly fund inclusive education for students with diverse learning needs.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetBring Indigenous education practices into school programsReconciliation · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will facilitate Indigenous educational practices within school programs.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetAdopt the BC Human Rights Commission's recommendations against racism in schoolsEquity · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will adopt recommendations from the BC Human Rights Commission to respond to and fight racism in schools.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetDefend sexual orientation and gender identity education in schoolsEquity · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will push back against attacks on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) education in schools.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetMatch special education funding to students' identified needsStudent support · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will align special education funding with identified special education needs, including per-student funding for students with learning disabilities and for those who need moderate behaviour support.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetPause AI chatbots in schools and run a technology auditEducation and technology · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will pause the rollout of AI large language models (chatbots) in Vancouver schools, and consult parents and others on a technology audit that sets rules on student safety and privacy, learning, mental health, the environment and student and staff use.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 23, section 3.9 Don't Force A.I. on Vancouver (opens in a new tab).
No action yetSupport music, arts, sports and recreation programs for VSB studentsSchool programs · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will support arts and recreation programs for Vancouver School Board students, including music and band, sports and recreation, theatre, and activities outside class that let students build skills and express themselves.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 20, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetOppose public education money going to elite private schoolsEducation funding · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will fight against public education funds going to elite private schools, and says public funding for private schools is going up while working class students face program cuts and closures. The Province sets the public funding of private schools.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 21, section 3.7 Put Students First at Vancouver School Board (opens in a new tab).
No action yetDrop-in child care spaces at schoolsChildcare · Party platform
COPE's 2026 platform says the party will set up drop-in spaces at community centres and schools where parents can get affordable, safe and reliable child care.
No vote or decision on this promise yet.
Where the promise was made: COPE Vancouver: Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF), page 19, section 3.6 Keep Families in Vancouver (opens in a new tab).

Candidate research / October 4, 2026

This record covers Derrick O'Keefe's COPE candidacy for the Vancouver School Board, the 2018 run for city council, his own statements in questionnaires and on social media, and the party positions he is running on. It also covers the Vancouver School Board's own current trustee list, which shows O'Keefe holds no current seat on the Board. Each item names its source.

17Commitments 6News articles 32Sources

Issue scores / How the plan is scored

How complete is the published plan?

The score counts how complete and checkable the published plan on this issue is. Whether the plan would work is a separate question, left to the reader. Measured October 4, 2026. The same seven points apply to every candidate for this office.

Schools and student support4/10
- 2/2
  A position in the candidate’s own words
  “fully funded and high quality education for all students”
  Stated by the candidate.
  School board team
- 2/2
  Names a mechanism the office controls
  “pledge to conduct a VSB AI Audit”
  Stated by the candidate.
  Candidates' Questionnaire Week 2: Generative AI in Schools
- 0/2
  States a measurable target
  No number for what would exist or change.
- 0/1
  States a cost or funding source
  No cost or funding source.
- 0/1
  States a timeline
  No date or term milestone.
- 0/1
  A dated, sourced action on the issue
  No dated public action on this issue found.
- 0/1
  Answered the voche.me question on the issue
  The questionnaire has not been sent yet. No candidate has this point.
COPE’s platform on schools: 2 commitments, none with a number. Party text earns the candidate the position point only.
What this office controls. The Board of Education runs Vancouver public schools, sets catchment boundaries and approves the district budget. Teacher pay and the provincial funding formula are set by the province.
Every School Board candidate on schools, scored the same way
Governance and City Hall2/10
- 2/2
  A position in the candidate’s own words
  “Here's an easy way we'll do a better job on the Board than ABC: we'll show up for meetings!”
  Stated by the candidate.
  Bluesky post on attending Board meetings
- 0/2
  Names a mechanism the office controls
  No instrument the office controls is named.
- 0/2
  States a measurable target
  No number for what would exist or change.
- 0/1
  States a cost or funding source
  No cost or funding source.
- 0/1
  States a timeline
  No date or term milestone.
- 0/1
  A dated, sourced action on the issue
  No dated public action on this issue found.
- 0/1
  Answered the voche.me question on the issue
  The questionnaire has not been sent yet. No candidate has this point.
What this office controls. Council, the Park Board and the Board of Education each set their own meeting rules, committees, public consultation and reporting. The Vancouver Charter and the School Act create the three bodies and set their powers, and only the Province can change those acts.
Every School Board candidate on governance, scored the same way
City taxes and the capital plan1/10
- 1/2
  A position in the candidate’s own words
  Party platform; candidate not quoted. COPE publishes 4 commitments on this issue.
- 0/2
  Names a mechanism the office controls
  Party text earns no points here; the statement must be the candidate’s own.
- 0/2
  States a measurable target
  Party text earns no points here; the statement must be the candidate’s own.
- 0/1
  States a cost or funding source
  Party text earns no points here; the statement must be the candidate’s own.
- 0/1
  States a timeline
  Party text earns no points here; the statement must be the candidate’s own.
- 0/1
  A dated, sourced action on the issue
  No dated public action on this issue found.
- 0/1
  Answered the voche.me question on the issue
  The questionnaire has not been sent yet. No candidate has this point.
COPE’s platform on taxes and budget: 4 commitments, at least one with a number. Party text earns the candidate the position point only.
What this office controls. The Board of Education approves the school district’s operating and capital budgets. The Province sets the funding formula and the school tax.
Every School Board candidate on taxes and budget, scored the same way
Policing and public safety1/10
- 1/2
  A position in the candidate’s own words
  Party platform; candidate not quoted. COPE publishes 3 commitments on this issue.
- 0/2
  Names a mechanism the office controls
  Party text earns no points here; the statement must be the candidate’s own.
- 0/2
  States a measurable target
  Party text earns no points here; the statement must be the candidate’s own.
- 0/1
  States a cost or funding source
  Party text earns no points here; the statement must be the candidate’s own.
- 0/1
  States a timeline
  Party text earns no points here; the statement must be the candidate’s own.
- 0/1
  A dated, sourced action on the issue
  No dated public action on this issue found.
- 0/1
  Answered the voche.me question on the issue
  The questionnaire has not been sent yet. No candidate has this point.
COPE’s platform on public safety: 3 commitments, none with a number. Party text earns the candidate the position point only.
What this office controls. The Board of Education sets safety policies for its schools and decides whether police liaison officers work in them. Policing itself is the Vancouver Police Department’s.
Every School Board candidate on public safety, scored the same way
Child care2/10
- 2/2
  A position in the candidate’s own words
  “affordable and accessible childcare”
  Stated by the candidate.
  School board team
- 0/2
  Names a mechanism the office controls
  No instrument the office controls is named.
- 0/2
  States a measurable target
  No number for what would exist or change.
- 0/1
  States a cost or funding source
  No cost or funding source.
- 0/1
  States a timeline
  No date or term milestone.
- 0/1
  A dated, sourced action on the issue
  No dated public action on this issue found.
- 0/1
  Answered the voche.me question on the issue
  The questionnaire has not been sent yet. No candidate has this point.
COPE’s platform on child care: 1 commitment, at least one with a number. Party text earns the candidate the position point only.
What this office controls. The Board of Education decides how school buildings and land are used, including child care on school sites. Licensing and operating funding are provincial.
Every School Board candidate on child care, scored the same way

Which of these issues matter to you? Weight them and see all School Board candidates in your own order.

Search log for Derrick O'Keefe: 7 of 7 steps done. Every point links to the source it was read in. Report an error through the corrections form.

Public schedule / Through election day

Where can you hear Derrick O'Keefe?

No upcoming public appearance by Derrick O'Keefe is confirmed in the sources checked on October 4, 2026.

Checked October 4, 2026 · All event times are Vancouver local time. Recheck the organizer before travelling.

Election dates and voting informationOfficial record · City of Vancouver
Where to voteOfficial record · City of Vancouver

On dates without a confirmed appearance the public schedule is unknown; the candidate may still have activities that day. This static page changes only when its research is updated.

01 / Introduction

About Derrick O'Keefe

Derrick O'Keefe appears on the City of Vancouver's final 2026 candidate list for School Board, with ballot number 323. The City records the affiliation as COPE.

COPE's page for its school board team describes O'Keefe as a journalist and a parent of two school-aged kids, and says the experience he brings is advocacy for public education and work as a journalist and writer.

The Tyee described O'Keefe as a journalist when listing COPE's four school board candidates in August 2026.

O'Keefe's own VoteMate candidate profile describes him as a parent of two school-aged kids, a renter, a union member, a long-time COPE member, a volunteer coach and a community advocate. It says he holds a degree in Education from the University of British Columbia and works as a writer, editor and researcher, including co-writing the memoir of Afghan women's rights activist Malalai Joya.

In his answers to The Griffins' Nest, the Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper, published on September 22, 2026, O'Keefe wrote that he has a degree in Education from the University of British Columbia, has worked on curriculum development, and works as a writer, editor and researcher with the SFU Institute for the Humanities. voche.me has not confirmed the SFU role with the university.

The Vancouver Unitarians congregation's own staff page names O'Keefe as its Interim Director of Administration. This is the only independent confirmation found for the non-profit administrator role his campaign material describes.

O'Keefe ran for Vancouver city council with COPE in the 2018 municipal election and received 38,305 votes, finishing 14th in a race for 10 seats, and did not win a seat.

O'Keefe writes for COPE's own news page. A post on July 21, 2026 about the first mayoral debate of the People's Primary carries the byline.

COPE's own release on its May 12, 2026 nomination meeting names O'Keefe among the members chosen for its 2026 school board slate, alongside Suzie Mah, Melanie Cheng and Gwen Giesbrecht.

O'Keefe appears on the October 17, 2026 school board ballot at number 323 for COPE, alongside COPE candidates Suzie Mah, Melanie Cheng and Gwen Giesbrecht.

The Vancouver and District Labour Council lists O'Keefe among the nine School Board candidates it endorses, on a page dated June 25, 2026. The Vancouver Secondary Teachers' Association executive council named him among the same nine in a post dated October 2, 2026.

COPE published its 2026 platform, Fight for Vancouver, on September 28, 2026. Its School Board section prints O'Keefe's name beside the party's school commitments. The platform is party text and does not quote him.

The Vancouver School Board's own list of current trustees, checked September 26, 2026, names nine trustees for the term ending with this election. O'Keefe is not among them; he holds no current seat on the Board of Education.

voche.me assembled this profile from the official candidate list, the campaign's own pages, O'Keefe's candidate-submitted biography on VoteMate, his answers to The Griffins' Nest questionnaires, and his own Bluesky and Instagram posts, all linked under Sources. The campaign has not been directly contacted by voche.me.

Vancouver's new School Board to be sworn in today at 5 pm COPE and Greens win all seven Park Board seats; COPE, Greens and OneCity win all nine School Board seats Four Indigenous candidates are running in Vancouver's 2026 civic election COPE unveils 2026 Vancouver platform with library funding, tenant protections, and a public audit Read the sources

Promises / Commitments and evidence

Commitments and the available evidence.

Published positions and selected commitments, separated by election cycle. Status labels describe the evidence reviewed, not a numerical score or a complete audit of the platform. Council approval is different from delivery.

17 commitments shown · Checked Oct 4

2026 · FundingCampaign pledge

Full funding for every learner

Work for fully funded, high quality education for every student, whatever their learning needs.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: COPE's schools page names this as O'Keefe's own priority, in a paragraph that names him directly. School funding is set mostly by the provincial government, and the page does not say how a trustee would change that.
What still needs checking: What a Vancouver trustee can do to raise provincial funding, and what O'Keefe would ask the province for first.

School board teamCampaign · COPE Vancouver
The COPE TeamCampaign · COPE Vancouver

2026 · FundingCampaign pledge

Fully funded and safe schools as trustee

As a trustee, insist on fully funded and safe schools with all the support and opportunities students need.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: This is O'Keefe's own candidate-submitted biography on VoteMate. It names no budget line, no number of positions and no date.
What still needs checking: Which specific school or programme O'Keefe considers unsafe or underfunded today, and what he would do about it first.

Derrick O'Keefe, COPE for Vancouver | 2026 BC Local Elections candidate profileCampaign · VoteMate

2026 · Student servicesCampaign pledge

Meals for every student

Bring in universal meal programmes in Vancouver schools.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: COPE's schools page lists this among O'Keefe's own priorities, in the paragraph naming him directly. His September 22, 2026 Griffins' Nest answer says he will work to expand school meal programs, and COPE's 2026 platform, published September 28, 2026, calls for a universal meal program for all district students. No cost or timeline is given.
What still needs checking: What a district-wide meal programme would cost each year and where the money would come from.

School board teamCampaign · COPE Vancouver
The COPE TeamCampaign · COPE Vancouver
Home pageCampaign · COPE Vancouver
Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're RunningInterview · The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper)
Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF)Campaign · COPE Vancouver

2026 · ChildcareCampaign pledge

Childcare families can afford

Work for childcare that families can afford and get to.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: COPE's schools page lists this among O'Keefe's own priorities, in the paragraph naming him directly. It does not say how many spaces or on which sites.
What still needs checking: How many childcare spaces could be opened on school district property, and on what timeline.

School board teamCampaign · COPE Vancouver
The COPE TeamCampaign · COPE Vancouver

2026 · Public landCampaign pledge

Keep school land in public hands

Use public school land for community benefit and stop giveaways of public land to real estate speculators.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: O'Keefe's own VoteMate biography and his September 22, 2026 Griffins' Nest answer say that what he calls the selloff of the Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary basketball courts led to his deeper involvement in School Board issues, and both state this pledge in his own words. CBC reported the deal as a 99-year, $8.5 million lease of the land to a developer. On Bluesky on September 26, 2026 he wrote that COPE trustees will continue Suzie Mah's work against sales of public school land. COPE's schools page states the same aim across its whole school board team. No specific district property under review today is named.
What still needs checking: Which district properties are under review, and how O'Keefe would vote on each.

Derrick O'Keefe, COPE for Vancouver | 2026 BC Local Elections candidate profileCampaign · VoteMate
School board teamCampaign · COPE Vancouver
Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're RunningInterview · The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper)
Bluesky post on public school landCampaign · Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky
After controversial land deal, Vancouver school's basketball courts are set to become rental housingReporting · CBC News

2026 · TechnologyCampaign pledge

Pause generative AI in schools

This is COPE's position: pause Microsoft Copilot accounts and all student use of generative AI and chatbots in district schools until wider consultation with the community has taken place.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: The Tyee put the question to all seven parties in August 2026 and recorded COPE's answer, listing O'Keefe among the party's four trustee candidates. On September 10, 2026 COPE said it is the only progressive party to have signed the PACES pledge against AI in Vancouver schools, and quoted trustee Suzie Mah on the issue. COPE's 2026 platform repeats the pause. O'Keefe's own answer on this question is recorded as a separate commitment.
What still needs checking: Whether O'Keefe states a personal position, and what the district's own consultation on Copilot has found.

Where Do Vancouver Parties Stand on AI?Reporting · The Tyee
COPE rallies to oppose AI data centres, unveils Artificial Intelligence PlatformCampaign · COPE Vancouver
Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF)Campaign · COPE Vancouver

2026 · FundingCampaign pledge

Public schools starved of stable funding

This is COPE's own framing for its whole school board team: Vancouver's public schools are being starved of the stable funding they need.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: This sentence is the banner statement at the top of COPE's schools page, covering the whole team rather than O'Keefe's own words. An earlier version of this record also credited the team with free transit for teenagers and defibrillators in schools; neither claim is stated on any of O'Keefe's own pages. The defibrillator record found elsewhere belongs to trustee Suzie Mah's actions in her current term, not a 2026 pledge, so on September 26, 2026 both claims were removed from this entry.
What still needs checking: Which of these a school board can deliver on its own, and which need the province.

School board teamCampaign · COPE Vancouver

2026 · EducationCampaign pledge

Stop cuts to school support staff

O'Keefe says he will work with his COPE colleagues to stop cuts to school support staff.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: From his own answer to The Griffins' Nest questionnaire of September 22, 2026. He does not say which positions, what keeping them would cost, or which part of the district budget would pay for them.
What still needs checking: Which support staff positions were cut in the 2026 to 2027 budget, and what keeping them would cost.

Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're RunningInterview · The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper)

2026 · EducationCampaign pledge

Restore a living wage for district workers

O'Keefe says COPE trustees will work to restore a living wage for school bus drivers and all other Vancouver School Board employees.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: Stated in his Griffins' Nest answer of September 22, 2026 and in his Bluesky post of October 1, 2026, which says the Board dropped its living wage commitment after the City did and that school bus drivers lost pay. He gives no wage rate, no cost and no date. voche.me has not checked the pay claims against a Board record.
What still needs checking: What the living wage rate would be, how many workers it would cover, and what it would add to the district budget each year.

Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're RunningInterview · The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper)
Bluesky post on a living wage for school district workersCampaign · Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky

2026 · EducationCampaign pledge

Prevent school closures

O'Keefe says he will work with his COPE colleagues to prevent school closures.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: From his Griffins' Nest answer of September 22, 2026. He does not name a school under review or say how the Board would pay to keep schools open.
What still needs checking: Which schools are proposed for closure now, and how he would vote on each.

Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're RunningInterview · The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper)

2026 · EducationCampaign pledge

Reverse cuts to student programs and supports

An Instagram post shared by COPE, O'Keefe's campaign account and the other COPE trustee candidates says COPE trustees will work to reverse cuts to programs and supports for students.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: The post lists O'Keefe's own account as a co-author. It does not name the programs, the cost of restoring them or a date. COPE's 2026 platform names two programs it would bring back: the Safe and Caring Schools program and the Britannia hockey academy.
What still needs checking: Which programs the COPE trustees would restore first, and from which budget line.

Instagram collaboration post by COPE, O'Keefe and the other COPE trustee candidates, October 1, 2026Campaign · @copevancouver and @okeefeforschoolboard on Instagram
Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF)Campaign · COPE Vancouver

2026 · EducationCampaign pledge

Pause student chatbots and audit AI use in district schools

O'Keefe's questionnaire answer says COPE's School Board candidates oppose the district's May 2026 introduction of Microsoft Copilot 13+, support a pause on chatbots and other generative AI tools for students, and will carry out an audit of AI use in the district with consultation of parents, educators, students and education partners.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: From his own answer to The Griffins' Nest questionnaire of September 28, 2026. An audit is a step the Board can order by its own vote. He gives no length for the pause, no cost for the audit and no date.
What still needs checking: How long the pause would last, who would run the audit, and what it would cost.

Candidates' Questionnaire Week 2: Generative AI in SchoolsInterview · The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper)

2026 · GovernanceCampaign pledge

Attend Board meetings

O'Keefe says he and the other COPE candidates will attend Board meetings.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: From his own Bluesky post of September 26, 2026, the second item in a list he started of reasons to vote for him and the other COPE candidates. The same post makes a claim about another trustee's attendance that voche.me has not checked against the Board's minutes. The post sets no rule or measure for attendance.
What still needs checking: Whether he would support publishing each trustee's attendance record.

Bluesky post on attending Board meetingsCampaign · Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky
Bluesky post starting a list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School BoardCampaign · Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky

2026 · EducationCampaign pledge

Close the funding gap between private and public schools

O'Keefe says he is running to close the gap between funding for elite private schools and funding for the public system.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: From his own Instagram post of September 28, 2026. Public money for private schools is set by the provincial government, so a trustee can only ask the Province to change it. He names no amount and no date. COPE's 2026 platform makes the same point and says public funding for private schools is going up.
What still needs checking: What he would ask the Province to change, and how the Board would make that request.

Instagram post on why he is running, September 28, 2026Campaign · @okeefeforschoolboard on Instagram
Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF)Campaign · COPE Vancouver

2026 · Public safetyCampaign pledge

School mental health counsellors in place of school liaison officers

This is COPE's platform position for its School Board team: fund school mental health counsellors instead of school liaison officers, the police officers assigned to schools.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: From COPE's 2026 platform, published September 28, 2026. The platform prints O'Keefe's name beside its School Board section but does not quote him on this point, so it counts as party text. It gives no number of counsellors and no cost.
What still needs checking: Whether O'Keefe states his own position on police officers in schools.

Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF)Campaign · COPE Vancouver
COPE Releases 2026 Platform, Pledging to Fight for Libraries, City-Wide Tenant Protections, Tripling the Empty Homes Tax, and Universal Meal Programs for StudentsCampaign · COPE Vancouver

2026 · GovernanceCampaign pledge

Open, live-streamed Board meetings and fewer private meetings

This is COPE's platform position for its School Board team: open, moderated, live-streamed Board meetings that allow public questions, town halls, regular reviews of governance policies, and fewer private Board meetings.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: From COPE's 2026 platform, published September 28, 2026. It is party text and does not quote O'Keefe. It gives no date and no measure for fewer private meetings.
What still needs checking: Which of these O'Keefe would move first as a trustee.

Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF)Campaign · COPE Vancouver

2026 · GovernanceCampaign pledge

Participatory budgeting at the School Board

This is COPE's platform position for its School Board team: participatory budget processes, where the public helps decide how part of the district budget is spent.

Evidence & next checks

Evidence reviewed: From COPE's 2026 platform, published September 28, 2026. It is party text and does not quote O'Keefe. It does not say how much of the budget the public would decide or when the process would start.
What still needs checking: What share of the district budget would go through a public process, and from which year.

Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF)Campaign · COPE Vancouver

City programs / Scope and delivery

Policies, budgets & programs

Each entry below names its source. Campaign material is the candidate's own account. Nothing here is presented as a verified outcome unless the entry says so.

No reviewed entries have been added to this section yet. This is a research gap, not a finding about the candidate.

Recent appearances / Read and watch

Talks, interviews & statements

Read original statements and reporting, or open the publisher’s video. A summary of a speech is labelled separately from a full recording.

Jul 21Statement

Post on the first mayoral debate of the People's Primary

Writing on COPE's news page, O'Keefe pointed readers to CBC radio coverage of the first People's Primary mayoral debate, which featured COPE's mayoral candidate Stephanie Allen and other progressive candidates, and framed the election as a fight against Ken Sim and the wealthy backers of that campaign.

Check out the first mayoral debate of the People's PrimaryCampaign · COPE Vancouver

Sep 22Statement

Answers to The Griffins' Nest questionnaire: why he is running and his priorities

In answers published by the Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper, O'Keefe said he is running with COPE for more investment in public education. He wrote that underfunding pushes costs onto parents through school fees and onto education workers, and that public schools could be well funded if governments taxed the richest people. He named his priorities as fully funded and safe schools, no more sales of public school land, stopping cuts to support staff, a living wage for district workers, more school meal programs and no school closures.

Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're RunningInterview · The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper)

Sep 25Statement

Bluesky list of reasons to vote COPE for School Board

On Bluesky, O'Keefe started a list of 23 reasons to vote for him and the other COPE School Board candidates. The first item, posted September 26, says COPE trustees will continue Suzie Mah's work against sales of public school land. The second says they will attend Board meetings.

Bluesky post starting a list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School BoardCampaign · Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky
Bluesky post on public school landCampaign · Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky
Bluesky post on attending Board meetingsCampaign · Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky

Sep 28Statement

Answer to The Griffins' Nest questionnaire on generative AI in schools

O'Keefe wrote that a trustee's job is to protect students' learning and development, and that COPE's School Board candidates oppose the district's May 2026 introduction of Microsoft Copilot 13+. He said they support a pause on student chatbots and an audit of AI use with consultation, and that supervised use of some AI tools could later be allowed in senior secondary courses.

Candidates' Questionnaire Week 2: Generative AI in SchoolsInterview · The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper)

Sep 28Statement

Instagram post on why he is running

On his campaign Instagram account, O'Keefe wrote that he is running for students, parents and education workers, and to close the gap in funding between elite private schools and the public system. The post lists the four COPE School Board candidates with their ballot numbers.

Instagram post on why he is running, September 28, 2026Campaign · @okeefeforschoolboard on Instagram

Oct 1Statement

Bluesky post on a living wage for school district workers

The third item in his Bluesky list says the School Board followed the City in dropping its living wage commitment, that school bus drivers lost pay as a result, and that COPE trustees will work to restore a living wage for district workers.

Bluesky post on a living wage for school district workersCampaign · Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky

Oct 1Statement

Instagram collaboration post with COPE on the school board team

A post shared by COPE, O'Keefe's campaign account and the other COPE trustee candidates says COPE trustees will work to reverse cuts to programs and supports for students, and lists the four COPE candidates with their ballot numbers.

Instagram collaboration post by COPE, O'Keefe and the other COPE trustee candidates, October 1, 2026Campaign · @copevancouver and @okeefeforschoolboard on Instagram

Accountability / Findings, disputes and responses

Controversies & public scrutiny

Records are labelled by type, including official findings, civil proceedings and political disputes where applicable. Each entry identifies the response found in the sources and the latest status verified for this page.

No reviewed entries have been added to this section yet. This is a research gap, not a finding about the candidate.

News coverage / Original publishers

Read the reporting

A dated reading list from independent publishers. The headings below are voche.me summaries; follow each link for the original article, context and any corrections.

August 11, 2026Reporting

The Tyee

Where Do Vancouver Parties Stand on AI?

Katie Hyslop asked all seven Vancouver parties about artificial intelligence in schools and about data centres. COPE asked for a pause on all student use of generative AI pending consultation, and O'Keefe is named among the party's trustee candidates.

Where Do Vancouver Parties Stand on AI?Reporting · The Tyee

September 22, 2026Reporting

Daily Hive

Vancouver's 2026 civic election candidate list is set: All 130 names in ballot order

The ballot for October 17, 2026 places O'Keefe at number 323 for school board under COPE.

All 130 names in ballot orderReporting · Daily Hive

May 14, 2026Reporting

Vancouver Is Awesome

OneCity, COPE choose candidates for 2026 civic election

Mike Howell reported that COPE chose O'Keefe, described as a writer-researcher, as one of its four School Board candidates, with trustee Suzie Mah, Melanie Cheng and Gwen Giesbrecht.

OneCity, COPE choose candidates for 2026 civic electionReporting · Vancouver Is Awesome

June 25, 2026Reporting

Vancouver and District Labour Council

VDLC Endorsed Candidates: City of Vancouver

The labour council's list of endorsed candidates names O'Keefe among nine School Board candidates, four from COPE and five from OneCity.

VDLC Endorsed Candidates: City of VancouverReporting · Vancouver and District Labour Council

September 28, 2026Reporting

Daily Hive

COPE Vancouver unveils its platform with housing a key priority

A report on COPE's 2026 platform that names O'Keefe among the party's four School Board candidates.

COPE Vancouver unveils its platform with housing a key priorityReporting · Daily Hive

October 2, 2026Reporting

Vancouver Secondary Teachers' Association

Our Union and the October 2026 Municipal Election

The secondary teachers' union says its executive council endorsed nine School Board candidates from COPE and OneCity, O'Keefe among them.

Our Union and the October 2026 Municipal ElectionReporting · Vancouver Secondary Teachers' Association

Research / 32 linked sources

Check the evidence

Sources checked October 4, 2026. Official records establish decisions; campaign material establishes stated positions; reporting adds investigation and context. None alone establishes every claim.

Official record 5 sources

Election dates and voting information
City of Vancouver
Where to vote
City of Vancouver
Trustees, current Vancouver Board of Education roster
Vancouver School Board
Derrick O'Keefe, staff page
Vancouver Unitarians
2026 school trustee candidates
City of Vancouver

Campaign 15 sources

School board team
COPE Vancouver
Home page
COPE Vancouver
The COPE Team
COPE Vancouver
Check out the first mayoral debate of the People's Primary
COPE Vancouver · July 21, 2026
COPE rallies to oppose AI data centres, unveils Artificial Intelligence Platform
COPE Vancouver · September 10, 2026
COPE Members Nominate Stephanie Allen for Mayor; Pick 2026 Election Slate
COPE Vancouver · May 12, 2026
Derrick O'Keefe, COPE for Vancouver | 2026 BC Local Elections candidate profile
VoteMate
COPE Releases 2026 Platform, Pledging to Fight for Libraries, City-Wide Tenant Protections, Tripling the Empty Homes Tax, and Universal Meal Programs for Students
COPE Vancouver · September 28, 2026
Fight for Vancouver: COPE 2026 election platform (PDF)
COPE Vancouver · September 28, 2026
Bluesky post starting a list of 23 reasons to vote COPE for School Board
Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky · September 25, 2026
Bluesky post on public school land
Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky · September 26, 2026
Bluesky post on attending Board meetings
Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky · September 26, 2026
Bluesky post on a living wage for school district workers
Derrick O'Keefe on Bluesky · October 1, 2026
Instagram post on why he is running, September 28, 2026
@okeefeforschoolboard on Instagram · September 28, 2026
Instagram collaboration post by COPE, O'Keefe and the other COPE trustee candidates, October 1, 2026
@copevancouver and @okeefeforschoolboard on Instagram · October 1, 2026

Reporting 8 sources

Where Do Vancouver Parties Stand on AI?
The Tyee · August 11, 2026
All 130 names in ballot order
Daily Hive · September 22, 2026
2018 Vancouver municipal election
Wikipedia
VDLC Endorsed Candidates: City of Vancouver
Vancouver and District Labour Council · June 25, 2026
Our Union and the October 2026 Municipal Election
Vancouver Secondary Teachers' Association · October 2, 2026
OneCity, COPE choose candidates for 2026 civic election
Vancouver Is Awesome · May 14, 2026
COPE Vancouver unveils its platform with housing a key priority
Daily Hive · September 28, 2026
After controversial land deal, Vancouver school's basketball courts are set to become rental housing
CBC News · November 17, 2025

Interview 2 sources

Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1: Meet Your School Board Candidates, And Find Out Why They're Running
The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper) · September 22, 2026
Candidates' Questionnaire Week 2: Generative AI in Schools
The Griffins' Nest (Eric Hamber Secondary student newspaper) · September 28, 2026

Event organizer 1 sources

Parents Talk Climate and AI with Vancouver School Board Trustee Candidates
For Our Kids Vancouver and PACES Vancouver · September 25, 2026

Event listing 1 sources

2026 Vancouver civic election portal, including the list of all-candidates meetings
CityHallWatch

COPE published its 2026 platform on September 28, 2026. It is party text and does not quote O'Keefe, so its School Board commitments count as party positions. O'Keefe's own positions come from his VoteMate biography, COPE's schools page, his answers to The Griffins' Nest questionnaires of September 22 and 28, 2026, and his own Bluesky and Instagram posts. He holds no seat on the Board of Education, so no Board minutes or motions apply to him for this term, and the record point is 0 on every issue. No news interview or report quoting him was found, and no source found shows that he took part in the Great East End Town Hall of September 28, 2026. The statement that the Fleming Elementary basketball court deal led to his deeper involvement in School Board issues comes only from his own words. His non-profit administrator role is confirmed by the Vancouver Unitarians' own staff page. His Education degree, his SFU Institute for the Humanities role, his co-author credit and his Canadian Screen Awards nomination are stated only by him. None of his commitments found so far gives a cost, a number or a date, and no source gives his own words on the district budget process or school safety policy. His Facebook page needs a login and was not read.

Research status

What voche.me has checked

Evidence reviewed on October 4, 2026: the City's candidate list, the campaign's own pages, COPE's 2026 platform, O'Keefe's candidate-submitted VoteMate biography, his answers to two Griffins' Nest questionnaires, his own Bluesky and Instagram posts, two union endorsement lists, one independent confirmation of a professional role, the 2018 election record and the Vancouver School Board's own current trustee list.

Campaign and candidate-written material read on October 4, 2026. Each stated position recorded here is checked against a quotation from the page it comes from.

Checks still to do: ask O'Keefe which spending or property decision he would change first, with costs; find whether he has stated a position on the district budget process or school safety policy.

The ballot name, office, ballot number and party label come from the City's final candidate list. Campaign material, questionnaire answers and the VoteMate biography are the candidate's own or the campaign's account and have not been confirmed by an independent source, except where this page says otherwise.

03 / Background

Experience & community

2018

Candidate for Vancouver city council, COPE

O'Keefe received 38,305 votes and was not elected. COPE won one council seat that year, taken by Jean Swanson.

Current

Interim Director of Administration, Vancouver Unitarians

The congregation's own staff page names O'Keefe in this role. His campaign material describes the same period of work as an administrator for a Vancouver-based non-profit, and as a writer, editor and researcher.

Derrick O'Keefe, Vancouver Unitarians

2026

Writer, COPE news page

O'Keefe writes posts on the party's news page, including coverage of the People's Primary mayoral debate in July 2026.

Check out the first mayoral debate of the People's Primary

Current

Writer, editor and researcher, SFU Institute for the Humanities

O'Keefe names this role in his own questionnaire answer of September 22, 2026. voche.me has not confirmed it with Simon Fraser University.

The Griffins' Nest · Candidates' Questionnaire Week 1

04 / Questions & answers

Questions for the candidate

Proposed questions for a future interview. They have not been sent to the candidate, and no answers have been supplied.

Which spending or property decision would you change first, and what evidence supports that choice?

No response has been submitted.

How would you balance student learning support, facilities and staffing within the district’s available funding?

No response has been submitted.

Have your own question?

Ask Derrick O'Keefe directly. We send it to the campaign, and publish the reply here if we get one.

05 / About this page

Questions about this page

Facts voche.me can state about Derrick O'Keefe's page itself, answered directly rather than left blank.

How did Derrick O'Keefe do in the 2026 Vancouver municipal election?

Derrick O'Keefe was elected to School Board with 72,639 votes, 4th of 31 in the preliminary count. The City of Vancouver published the count, and every candidate's total is on the results page.

Is this an official page for Derrick O'Keefe?

No. This page is researched by voche.me from public sources, listed below, and is separate from Derrick O'Keefe's own campaign.

What is Derrick O'Keefe's ballot number for the 2026 Vancouver election?

Derrick O'Keefe is number 323 on the City of Vancouver's official 2026 ballot for School Board.

What party did Derrick O'Keefe run with?

Derrick O'Keefe ran for School Board with COPE.

Does Derrick O'Keefe currently hold public office?

Not according to this profile. voche.me has not listed a current public office for Derrick O'Keefe.

How many sources does this Derrick O'Keefe profile cite?

This profile lists 4 sourced references, each with the date voche.me checked it, in the Sources section below.

Has Derrick O'Keefe filed nomination papers for the 2026 election?

voche.me has not yet added a nomination record for Derrick O'Keefe. This does not mean no nomination paper was filed, only that voche.me has not completed that research yet.

Why do some questions on Derrick O'Keefe's page show no answer?

The "Questions & answers" section on this page lists questions voche.me would put to Derrick O'Keefe in a future interview. They have not been sent yet, so the page says plainly that no answer has been supplied instead of leaving the section blank.

When was the election Derrick O'Keefe ran in?

The 2026 Vancouver municipal election, including the School Board race, was decided on October 17, 2026.

06 / Candidate contributions

Space for campaign updates

October 4, 2026

Added questionnaire answers, social media posts, endorsements and the COPE platform, and corrected two statements

Added O'Keefe's answers to The Griffins' Nest questionnaires of September 22 and 28, 2026, his Bluesky posts of September 25 and 26 and October 1, his Instagram post of September 28 and an Instagram post of October 1 that lists his account as a co-author with COPE, the endorsement lists of the Vancouver and District Labour Council and the Vancouver Secondary Teachers' Association, COPE's 2026 platform, and the For Our Kids and PACES online forum of October 6. Corrected the statement that COPE had not published a 2026 platform: the party published one on September 28, 2026. Corrected the description of the Fleming Elementary basketball court deal as a sale: CBC reported it as a 99-year, $8.5 million lease to a developer, and the record now says that O'Keefe calls it a selloff. Removed the Great East End Town Hall of September 28, 2026 from the calendar, because no source found shows that O'Keefe took part, and removed the October 3 advance voting date, which has passed.

September 26, 2026

Added the candidate's own biography and corrected an overstated pledge

Added O'Keefe's VoteMate candidate biography, the COPE team page quote naming him directly, the party's nomination release and the Vancouver School Board's own trustee list, which confirms he holds no current seat on the Board. Rewrote the funding pledge that had named free transit for teenagers and defibrillators in schools: neither claim appears on O'Keefe's own campaign pages, and the defibrillator record found elsewhere belongs to trustee Suzie Mah's term in office, not a 2026 pledge, so both were removed. Removed three entries that duplicated pledges already recorded under other IDs from the same source sentences.