Sunday October 26, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC [Posted at 8:38 am | Updated 9:07 am]
Editorial news analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
People understand that it’s political-speak but when a BC government minister introduces a school board chair as ‘the second best’, that requires explanation.
Twice now, local MLA Ravi Parmar (Langford-Highlands) who is also the Minister of Forests for the province, has introduced the Board Chair of the Sooke School District (SD62) Amanda Dowhy as “the second best” school board chair in the district.
Dowhy has maintained a steady performance as SD62 board chair. She was among Parmar’s pick during the October 2022 election cycle. He’s a big fan of Dowhy and her maneuverability in the political system.
Both times in front of media — during a province-wide announcement on October 1 when Premier David Eby visited Langford for a North Langford high school construction announcement emceed by Parmar, and back at the end of August at the opening of an elementary school in south Langford attended by both Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma and the Minister of Education and Child Care Lisa Beare — Parmar’s quip is clearly delivered with an attempt at collegial humour.
But it irks people — primarily for being so unnecessary. Parmar has moved on and up from being the long-time SD62 board chair (for almost 10 years during 2014-2023 as a Horgan favourite). That part of his political career is securely fixed and now that Parmar is the Minister of Forests and has other senior roles in the provincial cabinet realm it hardly seems necessary to bang another nail into securing the school board era as part of his political legacy.
Dowhy handles the awkward on-camera moments with aplomb, but it’s got to be a wearing experience. And overall, it distracts from the work that SD62 might be highlighting through their board chair. Island Social Trends requested a comment from Dowhy but has not received a comment on this matter.
The next SD62 public board meeting is coming up Tuesday October 28 at 7 pm.
SD62 is responsible to provide public education to families in the west shore region, currently with schools in Langford, Colwood, Sooke, Metchosin and Port Renfrew.
===== ABOUT THE WRITER:
Island Social Trends Editor Mary P Brooke has been covering SD62 politics since 2014 amidst the broader picture of BC politics.
===== RELATED:
A second high school for Langford announced by Premier Eby (October 1, 2025)
Infrastructure & Education ministers attend opening of new SD62 elementary school in Langford (August 27, 2025)
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