A parent who has been there
Raising three children through local elementary and secondary schools showed me how children’s needs change—and how different each family’s experience can be.
HDSB Trustee - Wards 5 & 7
Lily Bharat
School Board Trustee Candidate
"Building Brighter Futures, Brick by Brick."
I have lived in Oakville for more than 18 years, raised three children in local schools, and run a business that works with schools and families.
Parent, educator, business owner
Three ways I have seen our schools work
18+ years
in Oakville
3 children
raised here
School-facing
business experience
Hands-on STEM
with local learners
My platform
What I'll focus on
Student well-being and success
Strong fundamentals, hands-on learning and individual support where needed.
Clear, accountable governance
Plain, transparent communication with families and responsible use of public funds.
Safe, well-maintained and supportive schools
Healthy, welcoming learning spaces and thoughtful planning for Oakville’s growth.
Strong community partnerships
Listening to families, educators and students, and working together to strengthen our schools.
What a trustee does — and doesn't do
It helps to be clear about the job, so you can judge candidates on what trustees actually control.
A trustee helps govern the board
- Represents community concerns at the board table.
- Reviews and votes on board budgets and major priorities.
- Takes part in policy and system-level decisions.
- Oversees the Director of Education and the board's direction.
A trustee does not run the classroom
- Ontario's Ministry of Education sets the provincial curriculum.
- Principals and administrators run day-to-day school operations.
- Teachers make instructional and assessment decisions.
- Trustees work at the governance level, not as individual school managers.
- No trustee has authority acting alone. Decisions are made by the board as a whole.
My approach
What I bring to the board table.
These priorities shape what I would bring to board decisions. My experience as a parent, educator and business owner informs how I listen, weigh competing needs and ask questions.
Parent experience
I know how board decisions land at home.
Communication, student support, transportation and school climate are felt by families first. I have been on that side of it for years.
Business experience
I have managed people, budgets and limited resources.
Running an organization means setting priorities, answering for results, and making practical decisions when there is not enough of something to go around.
Education experience
I see what engages students in practice.
Working directly with children shows me how curiosity and confidence develop, and how differently students take to the same lesson.
Meet Lily
My connection to our schools is personal.
- A parent.
- An educator.
- A local business owner.
- An Oakville neighbour.
Those experiences shape how I listen, ask questions and put students at the centre of decisions.
Have a question, concern or idea about our schools? I want to hear from you.
Let’s talk18+ years in Oakville
Oakville is home. I’ve watched our neighbourhoods grow and understand the questions families ask about schools, safety, communication and their children’s future.
Nearly 15 years in business
Running a business has taught me to plan ahead, manage resources and build lasting relationships.
Seeing how children learn
I’ve helped thousands of children build, experiment and solve problems through hands-on STEM, seeing how confidence grows through learning.
Along the way, I’ve watched a generation grow from pre-K to university.
Voting day is Monday, October 26
Polls are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advance voting runs October 7–10 and October 13–18.
How to vote