Ekenna won’t seek re-election to school board

Brandon School Division trustee Calistus Ekenna has decided not to seek re-election in the Oct. 28 civic election.

The trustee, who has served more than six years on the board of trustees, announced his decision on Monday.

Ekenna, 46, said the decision is less about politics than it is about family.

“This decision is not because I have lost faith in our schools or in the importance of public education. Quite the opposite,” he told the Sun.

“There are seasons in life when we are called to serve our community, and there are seasons when we need to make more room for the people closest to us,” he said. “This is the time to be more present, spend more time with family, share ordinary moments and be there for the important moments.”

Ekenna said stepping away from elected office does not mean stepping away from public service altogether.

“It is simply recognizing that our responsibilities change,” he said.

Looking back on his tenure, he said he is particularly proud of some impacts the school board has made on the division.

“We’ve brought inclusivity to the board and that has extended beyond representation to policies, curriculum and budgeting,” he said.

He said issues such as daycare and integrating newcomers, as well as the division’s use of settlement workers in schools, are examples of areas where the board has responded to the changing realities of Brandon.

Ekenna also reflected on the École secondaire Neelin High School sword attack in June 2025, saying it highlighted some of the challenges facing the community but also provided an opportunity for residents to come together.

He said the current board is functioning well and urged future trustees to preserve the teamwork and collegiality that have developed around the board table.

“Sometimes we disagree but also agree. We work together as a team,” Ekenna said. “That team effort is very, very crucial in running the board and also fulfilling its mandate.”

He also praised the division’s current senior administration and said the next board should continue supporting its leadership.

One area he would like future trustees to focus more attention on is the welfare of teachers and other staff.

Ekenna said the division needs to look at ways to address staff burnout and prevent early retirements and people leaving the profession.

While acknowledging that improving staff support can involve additional financial pressures, Ekenna said the issue deserves greater attention.

As he prepares to leave the board, Ekenna is also encouraging more people to participate in the trustee election, particularly newcomers and members of Brandon’s diverse communities.

He said people who have made Brandon their home, pay taxes and have children attending local schools should see themselves as stakeholders in the school division.

“I want to encourage them … to participate in this election,” he said. “Volunteer themselves and run for election, especially the trustees election.”

Ekenna said the relatively slow start to trustee candidate registration is not unusual and expects more people to come forward as the October election approaches.

Although he will not be on the ballot this fall, Ekenna said he does not consider his political career over.

“I will come back,” he said when asked whether he could seek office again in the future. “Not now, but in the next four years should be enough time for me. I will come back.”

For now, he said, his focus is on giving more of himself to his family after years of public service.

“I leave this position with gratitude, not regret,” Ekenna said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve.”

He also thanked the Nigerian community and other cultural communities in Brandon for their support throughout his time as a trustee, while stressing that his role was to represent the entire community.

His departure will be one of at least two changes on the nine-member board, with trustee Jim Murray also deciding not to seek re-election. Trustees Duncan Ross, Kirk Carr and Lorraine McConnell have registered to run.

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