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Who Is Krista Sigurdson?
Krista is an academic researcher and educator, political staffer, mother, community organizer, parent advocate, friend, and spouse. She has a PhD in Sociology and worked as a health care researcher at Stanford University and as a research and writing instructor at UBC. Her academic work focused on breastfeeding, maternal and infant health, and racial and ethnic disparities in health care.
She became engaged in local Vancouver politics through volunteering as a chair for Strathcona Elementary’s Parent Advisory Council and board member for Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council. Krista is a OneCity Education Caucus volunteer, ran for Vancouver School Board in 2022 and served on the OneCity Organizing Committee.
She has worked as staff on two recent successful political campaigns: Provincially for Vancouver-West End for Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert and Federally for Vancouver-East For Member of Parliament, Jenny Kwan. She worked as a Constituency Advisor for MLA Christine Boyle (Vancouver-Little Mountain) and MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert and now works as an Executive Assistant for the Minister of Children and Family Development, Jodie Wickens.
Krista is a parent with two kids in the public K-12 school system in Vancouver. She believes that all Vancouver kids, regardless of where they live or their circumstances, deserve to experience all the wonderful things that public school can offer. Krista wants to be a part of putting kids and families at the centre of OneCity’s 2026 platform for Vancouver. She enjoys playing and listening to music, dancing, the outdoors, cooking, thrifing, reading and spending time with family and friends.
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Why I'm Running
My kids thrive in public education and I want that experience for all Vancouver children.
Having been a Strathcona Parent Advisory Council member for 5 years, I see the positive impact that a diverse, community-minded public school can have on the outcomes and experiences of children. However, I see how much inequity there is baked into our current school system, too.
While some schools receive seismic upgrading and/or can fundraise tens of thousands of dollars for new amenities, other schools scramble to meet basic education needs or secure stable food programming for children.
Some parents are turning to private schools to opt out of the challenges facing our schools, leaving the public system because they worry the needs of their kids won’t be met.
I started as a parent concerned about my own kids’ education, and soon realized that when my neighbours’ kids thrived I was excited by the possibilities of a robust and vibrant school system for everyone.
That’s when I joined the District Parent Advisory Council, became a regular contributor to CBC’s parent panel, and joined OneCity’s education caucus. I supported Jennifer Reddy’s leadership at the school board table, and was part of the OneCity Organizing Committee.
I ran for School Trustee in 2022 and came close to winning, losing by less than 1 percent. Through this process I learned about the importance of campaigning hard and listening to what Vancouver families want for their kids.
We must highlight the amazing promise of public education but not shy away from the real challenges our district is facing including inadequate inclusive education, challenges in recruitment and retention, unmet need for before and after school child care, pressures to sell school board land, the shutting down of democratic processes, etc. These challenges are daunting but I believe that they need to be openly discussed and strategized, not accepted as necessary eventualities.
I will prioritize transparency with parents, teachers and staff, so that we, together, can address all issues facing our schools and reestablish Vancouver as a ‘lighthouse’ school district for all students.
Things can be different - let’s do this!
Get Me on the Ballot
Onecity is running a nomination race to decide who will run for Vancouver School Board in 2026. I am
running to be a Onecity candidate for the Vancouver School Board and I need your support to get on the
ballot.
Voting in the nomination race will be open online from May 3rd to May 10th and you can vote by
signing up for a Onecity membership today!
The membership cutoff date to vote in the nomination race is April 10th.
If you are already a Onecity member, you can sign up to receive updates from the campaign or contact
me with with any questions you may have.
If you are unsure whether or not you are a Onecity member, you can check here or contact me and I can check
for you.