Eight years on the Board, a lifetime in Langley, and a commitment to making sure City students are heard

Langley school Trustee Tony Ward announced today that he will seek a third term on the Langley Board of Education this October as part of the Langley Strong team.

Ward was first elected to the Board in 2018 and was acclaimed in 2022 to one of the two seats representing the City of Langley. He is seeking re-election as part of a Langley Strong trustee team that includes Board Chair Candy Ashdown, Trustees Charlie Fox and Holly Dickinson, and candidate Neil Turner.

The Langley School District is governed by a seven-member Board, with five trustees elected in the Township of Langley and two elected in the City of Langley.

For Ward, that makes the City’s representation at the Board table especially important.

“Langley City has just two of seven voices on the Board. Those two voices need to be prepared, engaged and willing to speak up. I’ve had the privilege of doing that for eight years, and I’m asking voters to give me the opportunity to keep doing it.” – Tony Ward

Ward has served through a period of major growth in the Langley School District. The District now serves approximately 27,600 students across 46 school sites. Since September 2024, the District has opened or secured provincial approval for 5,030 new student spaces, representing approximately $514.5 million in provincial investment, including three new schools and the joint stɑtl̓əw̓ (stot-low) Middle School and Emery Dosdall Secondary campus in Willoughby.

Ward says he is proud to have supported that growth, while also making sure established communities are not overlooked.

“I’m proud that we got those new schools approved, and I voted for every one of them. I would make those same decisions again. But building new schools cannot mean forgetting the schools we already have. Langley City has older facilities that need attention and investment, and I’ll continue to make sure City students and families remain a priority.” – Tony Ward

Ward has also consistently supported maintaining a wide range of programs and pathways for Langley students, including French Immersion, Fundamental schools, Montessori, Fine Arts, U-Connect, the L.E.A.P. environmental awareness program and Youth Train in Trades.

“Not every student connects with school in the same way. Some find their place in a trades shop. Some find it in Fine Arts. Some find it in French Immersion or another program that gives them a reason to be there. Choice isn’t a frill. Sometimes it’s the thing that helps a student find their place.” – Tony Ward

Ward brings decades of local government experience to the Board. He says that experience has shaped the way he approaches budgets, staff reports, capital plans and long-term decisions.

“I have worked in local government for most of my adult life. It teaches you to ask what a decision will cost in year three, not just what it looks like in year one. When you’re spending public money, you have to be willing to ask the hard questions.” – Tony Ward

If re-elected, Ward says his focus will remain on three things: making sure the City of Langley gets its share of school investment, protecting the range of programs and pathways available to students, and holding the Board accountable for how it spends public money.

Board Chair Candy Ashdown, who has served with Ward at the Board table for the past four years, says his experience is an important asset to the Board.

“Tony does the reading. He asks the questions that matter. He understands what decisions mean for the long term, and he cares deeply about the students and families we serve. I want him back at that table.” – Candy Ashdown, Chair, Langley Board of Education, and Langley Strong trustee candidate

Ward’s connection to Langley schools is personal. He attended Langley City schools, including Langley Prairie Fundamental and Blacklock Elementary, before graduating from Langley Secondary School. His three children also attended schools throughout the Langley School District.

“I went to school in Langley City. My three kids went to school in this District. I’ve spent eight years sitting at that Board table, and I’ve spent decades working in this community. So I don’t look at this as just another term on a Board. These are our schools. These are our kids. And every child matters.” – Tony Ward

After eight years on the Board, Ward says the experience has given him perspective and a better understanding of what the job requires.

“Eight years gives you perspective. You learn what works, what doesn’t, where the challenges are, and how long it takes to turn a good idea into something that actually happens. You also learn that there is always more to learn. I’m not running for a third term because I think the job is finished. I’m running because I believe my experience can still make a difference.” – Tony Ward

General voting day is Saturday, October 17, 2026.

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About Langley Strong

Langley Strong is a team of candidates running in the Township of Langley and the City of Langley on a platform of fiscal responsibility, transparent governance and community well-being. The team is led by mayoral candidate Jay Lundgren and includes council candidates Lauren Chalus, Shumail Javed, Margaret Kunst, Barb Martens, Kim Richter, Teresa Townsley and Blair Whitmarsh, and school trustee candidates Candy Ashdown, Holly Dickinson, Charlie Fox, and Tony Ward.

Media contact

Karen Zukas
Media Relations, Langley Strong
Email: media@langleystrong.ca