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Colin Zuo
Biography
Colin Zuo is a Burnaby community leader, father and public education advocate committed to strong, accountable and well-funded public schools.
Having experienced bullying as a student, Colin understands how deeply school safety and belonging can affect a young person’s life. As a father, he believes that when families send their children to school, they entrust the public education system with the people they love most. Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, included and supported.
Having served on the Board of Governors of Vancouver Community College (VCC), Colin brings firsthand experience in education governance, budgeting, accountability and responsible stewardship of public resources. He understands that trustees must listen to their communities, set clear priorities, oversee resources and hold the education system accountable.
Colin is endorsed by the New Westminster & District Labour Council (NWDLC), the Burnaby Teachers’ Association and Burnaby Firefighters. Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, he is active across Burnaby’s diverse communities, volunteers with local organizations and supports initiatives such as Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue (USAR).
Colin will advocate for predictable provincial funding that protects frontline classroom supports, including educational assistants, special education and mental health services. He supports responsible investment in new and expanded schools so that capacity keeps pace with Burnaby’s growth, alongside fair treatment and adequate resources for teachers and support staff.
He also believes student safety extends beyond the classroom. He will work with the City, district staff, families and community partners to improve safe routes to school and prepare schools for extreme heat and changing environmental conditions. He supports responsible use of technology that protects student privacy, supports educators and prepares young people for a changing world.
Colin believes strong public education depends on listening and working together. He will bring students, families, teachers, staff, Indigenous communities, government and community partners into the conversation, ensuring that decisions reflect the needs of the people our schools serve.
Reason for running
My decision to run for Burnaby School Trustee comes from my own experiences, my responsibility as a father, and my experience in education governance.
I grew up in a working-class family and experienced bullying as a student. I know how deeply a child can be affected by whether they feel safe and respected at school. Becoming a father has made this even more personal: when we send our children to school, we entrust our public education system with the people we love most. I want every child to learn safely, receive help when they need it, and have a fair opportunity to thrive.
While serving on the Board of Governors of Vancouver Community College (VCC), I participated in education governance, budgeting and oversight of public resources. This taught me that supporting education requires both commitment and responsible decisions. Education funding must make a meaningful difference in classrooms, giving teachers and staff the resources to do their jobs and ensuring students with different needs receive appropriate support.
I want to bring these experiences to the Burnaby Board of Education. I will advocate for stable, adequate funding, stronger school safety and anti-bullying measures, and school facilities that keep pace with our growing city. I will listen carefully to students, families, teachers and staff, and bring their needs into board decisions.
I am running to do practical work that helps families feel confident in our schools, supports educators, and ensures every child feels safe, respected and supported.
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