PVNC Presents Students With Annual Catholic Student Leadership Awards

As part of Catholic Education Week, which runs May 1 to 6, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNC) honoured 38 students with a Catholic Student Leadership Award during a ceremony at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Peterborough on Wednesday.

One student was selected from each elementary and secondary school and winners were presented with a special medallion.

Award recipients were nominated by principals, teachers and in some cases, fellow students. Each demonstrated outstanding qualities in Catholic leadership, family commitment, involvement in school affairs, involvement in community activities and dedication to a difficult situation or task.

“These award winners are true role models who embody the goals of our Catholic Graduate Expectations,” said Braden Leal, Chairperson of the Board. “Catholic Education Week affords us a perfect time to pay tribute to the student leaders in our schools and reflect on the importance of faith in our lives, and the role it plays in Catholic education.”

A full list of recipients is below:

Faith Griffiths, St. Mary CES, Lindsay

Niamh Walsh, STA Virtual Elementary School

James Gouin, STA Virtual Secondary School

Jayden Hopkins, St. John CES, Peterborough

Ruby Briand, Holy Cross CSS, Peterborough

William White, St. Peter CSS, Peterborough

Quinten Fowler, St. Paul CES, Peterborough

Makenzie Nichols, Holy Trinity CSS, Courtice

Chase Hudson, St. Stephen CSS, Bowmanville

Lola Bittner, St. Catherine CES, Peterborough

Avery Pick, St. Patrick CES, Peterborough

Michel Gagné, St. Michael CES, Cobourg

Liam Cook, Immaculate Conception CES, Peterborough

Anna Golobic, St. Francis of Assisi CES, Newcastle

Alena Vuong, Holy Family CES, Bowmanville

Elizabeth Payne, St. Joseph CES, Bowmanville

Katie Payne, St. Paul CES, Norwood

Matteo Crimi, Notre Dame CES, Cobourg

Cheyenne Hudson, St. Elizabeth CES, Bownmanville

Rees Tewsley, St. Anne CES, Peterborough

Keira deLaPlante, St. Joseph CES, Douro

Emma MacDonald, Monsignor Leo Cleary CES, Courtice

Chloe McMahon, Monsignor O’Donoghue CES, Peterborough

Sydney MacLellan, St. Paul CES, Lakefield

Janey King, St. Mary CES, Campbellford

Eva Winn, St. Luke CES, Downeyville

Hunter Young, St. Teresa CES, Peterborough

Connor James, St. Mother Teresa CES, Courtice

Emma Smith, St. Mary CES, Grafton

Daniel Zito, Good Shepherd CES, Courtice

Jessica Harris, St. Mary CSS, Cobourg

Alisha Byrne, St. Thomas Aquinas CSS, Lindsay

Addison Gerelus, St. Martin CES, Ennismore

Madison Mohr, St. John Paul II CES, Lindsay

Raina Willson, St. Dominic CES, Lindsay

Ayaji Antolin, St. Joseph CES, Cobourg

Donny Drake, St. Anthony CES, Port Hope

Josiah McMahon, St. Alphonsus CES

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PVNC School Board To Fly The Pride Flag During Pride Month

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board will fly the Pride flag at its board facilities commencing this June during the celebration of Pride Month.

Stock Photo.

Trustee Kevin MacKenzie brought forth the following motion, which passed with a majority vote during Wednesday’s board meeting:

The Board of Trustees authorizes the Director of Education to fly the Pride flag at school board facilities during the month of June, to further the promotion of an environment of inclusion, diversity and equity in our community.

“I want to set the same example to my children that Jesus did, and that’s to love all people,” MacKenzie said. “I want (students) to feel proud of their school board and their school. I want them to feel proud of themselves. I want them to be filled with pride because I can tell you that I am proud of every student in our board. Let them be proud and let’s raise the Pride flag.”

Board Chairperson Braden Leal quoted Pope Francis in his support for the motion.

“Time and time again, Pope Francis’ message is explicit – we must always consider the person. The doors of our Catholic schools must be clearly open to all people,” Leal said. “We have an opportunity to physically and symbolically demonstrate full inclusion, to welcome each and every member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community by flying the Pride flag during Pride Month.”

Director of Education Joan Carragher said the raising of the Pride flag complements the Board’s commitment to equity and the day-to-day work our schools undertake to make all students feel included. 

“We will continue our commitment every single day to equity, diversity and inclusion in a focused and strategic way so that our students will continue to understand that we are accompanying them in their realization of their own unique story. The raising of the Pride flag will be one more way that we demonstrate this accompaniment,” Carragher said. “I will now work towards implementation of this passed motion from our Board of Trustees and pray that in doing so, all of our students and staff feel like they belong in our wonderful PVNC Catholic community.”

Pride month begins June 1.

The Pride flag is used to represent the LGBTQ community and to express pride and acceptance in that community.

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Peterborough Trustee Braden Leal Elected as PVNC Catholic Board Chairperson

Peterborough trustee Braden Leal was acclaimed as Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board chairperson during the Board’s annual meeting on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of PVNC.

Leal has been serving as vice-chairperson since Oct. 26, 2021. He has served three years in the trustee role, having been elected as first-time trustee in the 2018 municipal election.

“I am honoured to take on this new role. I am a proud PVNC graduate, and I look forward to working with my fellow trustees as we continue to guide the Board through these challenging times,” Leal said. “The pandemic continues to place extreme pressures on our staff, students and families and our work as trustees has never been more vital as we strive for excellence in Catholic Education and to educate students in faith-filled, loving, safe, inclusive schools.”

Clarington trustee Kevin MacKenzie was acclaimed vice-chairperson. MacKenzie also marked three years as a trustee, elected as first-time trustee in the 2018 municipal election.

Leal takes over the chairperson role from Northumberland trustee David Bernier, who was elected to the role in December 2020. Bernier has been a trustee for 15 years and previously served as Board chairperson from 2008 through 2010. Leal acknowledged Bernier’s service in the chairperson role and thanked him for his leadership over the past year.

Trustees Helen McCarthy (Peterborough) and Linda Ainsworth (Clarington) have both served on the Board for seven years, having first been elected in October 2014.

Trustee Emmanuel Pinto (Peterborough County) marked three years in his role. Tuesday was the first annual board meeting for newly appointed Kawartha Lakes trustee Loretta Durst, who officially joined the Board during the Nov. 23, 2021 regular board meeting.

During Tuesday’s annual board meeting, trustees were also appointed to standing and ad-hoc Board committees.

Peterborough Bishop Daniel Miehm celebrated mass following the annual board meeting.

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PVNC Board Selects New Trustee to Fill Vacancy

The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board has selected a new trustee to fill a vacancy on the board until the 2022 municipal election, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of PVNC.

The board of trustees selected Peterborough resident Loretta Durst to fill the trustee vacancy following a special in-camera Board meeting held Monday night. Trustees heard presentations from nine candidates who applied for the position.

Durst holds a Bachelor of Education from Trent University and she has worked in various administration roles at the university throughout her career.

She is currently the manager of finance and administration at Trent University’s library and archives, a role she has held since 2012. Durst served as a Board member for Trent University from 2015-2017 as an elected staff representative.

“I am deeply committed to Catholic education. Our own four children attended Catholic schools here in Peterborough. It was a wonderful experience being a partner with the teachers and schools to support our children in their education and be part of their faith journey,” Durst said. “I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the PVNC Catholic District School Board as a trustee until October 2022.”

The board began advertising for interested trustee candidates in mid-October following the resignation of Kawartha Lakes trustee Michelle Griepsma, who moved out of the Board’s jurisdiction after serving 11 years as a trustee.

“We were happy to see such a strong interest in this trustee vacancy. We were impressed by the quality of candidates who put their names forward to serve Catholic Education in this jurisdiction,” said Dave Bernier, PVNC Board Chairperson. “We are happy to welcome Loretta and I know we will benefit from Loretta’s experience at the Board table.”

Durst will begin her new role on Nov. 23 at the regular board meeting, until the October 2022 municipal elections.

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Son of Former MPP Elected As School Board Vice-Chairperson

Peterborough Trustee Braden Leal, son of former MPP Jeff Leal, has been elected as vice-chairperson of the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) on Wednesday.

Braden ran uncontested municipal election in the Peterborough city municipal elections in 2018 Photo Courtesy of PVNCCDSB.

The decision was made following the board’s meeting Tuesday night.

Braden was an elected trustee in the 2018 municipal election, replacing Kawartha Lakes trustee Michelle Griepsma, who resigned after moving from the jurisdiction. He will serve in the vice-chairperson role until the annual Board meeting on Dec. 1.

Former Kawartha Lakes Trustee Michelle Griepsma served with the PVNCCDSB board for 11 years before her resignation earlier this month. Photo Courtesy of PVNCCDSB.

The Holy Cross Secondary School alumnus studied environmental science at Trent University and has served the school board since Dec. 2018.

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