Why is every PVNC Catholic employee being asked to complete the 2026 Staff Census?
Your voluntary participation in the Staff Census helps us better understand and serve our PVNC Catholic community. The higher the participation rate, the more reliable the information will be to help us identify and remove systemic barriers and improve workplace experiences for all staff.
The 2026 Staff Census builds on what we learned from our inaugural census in 2022 and supports ongoing equity, inclusion and accessibility work across the system.
Do I have to complete the census? Do I have to answer all the questions?
No. Completion of the Staff Census is voluntary. All staff members are encouraged to participate and will be given dedicated time to complete it.
All questions are optional. Staff may skip any question for any reason. If a question is skipped, responses to all other questions will still be included.
Why does the Board ask questions about race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability and age?
Collecting identity-based data helps the Board better understand the diversity of our workforce and identify systemic barriers. This allows us to make evidence-based decisions to improve workplace culture, supports and opportunities for staff.
Identity-based data from staff complements data collected through the Student Census and helps ensure equity and accessibility informed decision-making across the system.
What will the Board do with this information?
Data will be analyzed by authorized research staff and used to produce summary reports that help inform Board and school decision-making. This includes supporting work connected to the Board’s Equity Action Plan and the Catholic Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement and Well-Being.
What are the goals of the Staff Census?
The Staff Census helps the Board:
- Understand and support the diversity of employees
- Identify and eliminate barriers to inclusion and belonging
- Inform system policies, procedures and programs
- Support recruitment, promotion and retention practices
- Guide professional development, training and succession planning
- Support a workforce that reflects and serves our communities
Will this census be confidential?
We recognize that sharing personal information can raise privacy concerns. PVNC Catholic is committed to protecting staff privacy and confidentiality.
Data will be collected securely and in accordance with applicable privacy legislation and best practices.
Individual responses will never be shared. Results will only be reported in summary form and will never identify an individual.
All individuals involved in administering or analyzing the census are required to keep all information completely confidential, including respondent identity and any information collected.
If I use a Board device at work to complete the survey, can IT Services track my responses or identify me?
No. The Board’s Information Technology department does not have access to raw census response data and cannot identify individual respondents.
Staff can confidentially complete the Staff Census using Board devices.
Will my individual responses be shared with my supervisor or other Board staff?
No. Access to raw census data is restricted to a small number of authorized staff responsible for data analysis.
Individual responses or data that could identify an individual will not be shared. Only summarized reports will be produced.
I work and live in a community that may not seem very diverse. Why is this census relevant to me?
Ontario communities continue to change and grow. The Staff Census helps ensure PVNC Catholic workplaces are welcoming, inclusive and prepared to support diverse staff and student populations now and in the future.
How is the Staff Census connected to the Student Census?
Strong relationships between staff and students are central to our mission. Understanding who our staff are and how they experience the workplace helps the Board better support staff, which directly supports student success and well-being.
How will staff benefit from participating in the census?
By participating, staff help inform important Board decision-making and help improve workplace culture, supports and staff experiences across PVNC Catholic.
Does the Staff Census comply with the law?
Information is collected under the legal authority of the Education Act (sections 170, 190, 264, 265) and in compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), including Sections 14 and 32, and the Ontario Human Rights Code.
The Ontario Human Rights Code permits proactive initiatives that support inclusion in the workplace. The Staff Census is one such initiative.
Information is collected for educational, research, and program and policy development purposes only and will be used, disclosed and retained in accordance with MFIPPA.
Who developed the Staff Census?
The survey was developed through Board-led equity and inclusion work, with input from system leaders, subject matter experts and relevant departments.
Several resources were accessed and referenced in the development of the questions, including, the Data Standards for the Identification and Monitoring of Systemic Racism, the Ontario Human Rights Code, our PVNC Catholic Equity Action Plan 2024-2028, Ontario’s 3-Year Anti-Racism Strategic Plan, the 2016 Canadian Census, and staff surveys conducted by other school boards in Ontario.
Relevant internal departments and stakeholder groups were consulted to support question design and review.
Staff will continue to have opportunities to provide feedback on the survey and future census processes.
For questions about the Staff Census, staff can contact: [email protected]