Citing inflation and the need to retain and attract top-tier trustee talent, the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) Board of Trustees has approved an increase in their annual salaries, though the decision was not unanimous.
Effective September 1, 2026, the CBE Board of Trustees has approved an increase to trustee honoraria, or salary, of 3.07 per cent, or $1,523, based on the most recent three-year rolling average of Statistics Canada’s annual published Calgary Consumer Price Index. Annual honoraria will now be $51,099 per trustee.
“The Board Chair will receive an additional honorarium in regular bi-weekly payments at the rate of $12,000 per annum; and the Vice-Chair will receive an additional honorarium in regular bi-weekly payments at the rate of $5,500 per annum. These honoraria provide compensation for duties, responsibilities and activities required of the Chair and Vice-Chair,” the April 21 CBE Board of Trustees agenda reads.
The CBE’s Trustee Remuneration Committee, which is composed of two trustees and three external members who have labour relations expertise, took budgetary, economic and other relevant factors into account ahead of the increase, according to the agenda.
Trustee Charlene May, who served as Chair for the Trustee Remuneration Committee, said that while it can be uncomfortable to talk about compensation, it is important for transparency.
“This is carried again through our audited financials, our individual disclosures, and the Board of Trustees budget. I do believe the base remuneration increase is fair, reasonable, and sufficient in order to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve in this role as public office,” she said.
Because of her respect for the committee and process, Trustee and Remuneration Committee member Cynthia Cordova voted for the increase.
“I like the recommendation that was brought forward based on the skills and the knowledge that the experts brought to this agreement and therefore I will be in favour of it, because I respect the knowledge, skill, and the recommendation that you brought forward,” she said.
May said that taking expert-recommended salary increases is responsible.
“We do serve as elected officials; it’s reasonable that we are reasonably compensated for this role. Accepting any increase means the board is continuing to make steps towards keeping within our market rate and within our peer metro group,” she said during the meeting.
CBE Trustees Hack, May and Cordova, Nancy Close, Susan Vukadinovic and Jenny Regal voted in favour of the increase. Patricia Bolger, Trustee for Wards 6 and 7, voted against it.
