Mark your calendars Vancouver area parents, for Vancouver DPAC (District Parent Advisory Council) will host two all-candidates debates during the first week of November. Vancouverites really need to pay more attention to School Board, so please pass this on.

• East side: Vancouver Technical Secondary, 2600 East Broadway, Wednesday November 5 @ 7pm (Map)
• West side: Bayview Community School, 2251 Collingwood, Thursday November 6 @ 7pm (Map)

The big question: will all parties commit to having all their candidates participate?

In what seems like a distinctly "Conservative Party of Canada" style move, several candidates were ordered to sit out last night's all candidates debate of School Board prospects, held at UBC. Parents and voters don't need to tolerate such disrespect for basic democracy. Candidates that won't speak don't deserve our votes.

Newsflash to the offending: If your candidate(s) can't stand up for themselves in debate, they certainly shouldn't be pretending to stand up for our kids!