Celebrating Catholic Trustees During Local Government Week: October 20-26

Oct. 16, 2024

Local Government Week, running from October 20-26, 2024, offers an exciting opportunity to highlight the essential role of Catholic School Trustees in our communities. This week-long, province-wide initiative aims to increase public awareness, especially among youth, about the value of municipal governance and the positive impact local officials have on public education and community well-being.

Stephen O’Sullivan, Director of Education for the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board, explains, “Local Government Week is a wonderful platform to showcase the important work Trustees do as part of our mission to nurture faith-filled, inclusive learning communities. Catholic education is a gift, and Trustees are the guardians of this tradition.”

Catholic School Board Trustees

School Board trustees are the oldest form of elected representation in Ontario. The first Catholic school in Ontario was built in Glengarry County in 1826. Catholic school board trustees are the only publicly elected official with the direct responsibility for the education of children in Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools.

Catholic Trustees have a distinctive focus that includes:

A vision of Catholic education that is Christ-centred;
A commitment to educating students in the Catholic faith tradition;
Working collaboratively with all partners in education for the betterment of all;
Embracing the knowledge that their service is an investment in the future leadership of our communities, our Catholic.

Our PVNC Catholic Trustees

The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board of Trustees consists of seven elected Trustees. Trustees are elected every four years during the municipal election:  

2 Trustees representing Peterborough
1 Trustee representing Peterborough County
1 Trustee representing City of Kawartha Lakes
1 Trustee representing Northumberland
2 Trustees representing Clarington

To share your feedback on matters related to the role of Trustees, please feel free to reach out to your local Trustee: https://www.pvnccdsb.on.ca/our-board/meet-the-trustees/

Are you registered as a Catholic School Supporter?

When you declare your support for the Catholic school board through your property taxes, you are protecting and preserving Catholic education in Ontario, by helping to further confirm that the publicly funded Catholic school system is strongly wanted and needed.

By ensuring you are a registered separate school supporter:

you are able to vote for Catholic school board trustees during municipal elections
you are ensuring that your municipalities property assessment base is up-to-date, which is a public record of support for Catholic schools

For more details, please visit our website.

Additional Information

Learn more about the history of Catholic education and the role of the Catholic school Trustee in Ontario by exploring the following resources.