CCSTA Hosts Student Art Poster + Logo Contest

Are you a student who loves design? Are you an artist? A graphic designer?

Then we want to see your creations.

To help promote the CCSTA Toonies for Tuition initiative, we’re reaching out to young artists from across the country to get creative and design a Toonies for Tuition logo and poster that speaks to the cause.

Our Toonies for Tuition program is a fundraising initiative to raise funds for the CCSTA Charitable Foundation. This foundation provides funding to students from across Canada who have to pay tuition to attend a Catholic school. These bursaries help to cover the financial restraints of attending elementary or high school where Catholic education is only partially funded by the government or not at all.

And this funding happens thanks to Toonies for Tuition.

Read more: Calling all Students: Develop our Toonies for Tuition Logo and Promotional Poster!

It was 20 years ago this past fall when the Newfoundland/Labrador government passed the Schools Act (1998) that saw the end to the denominational system of education, an article in the 1949 Terms of Union with Canada, in favor of a public system of education. To reflect on the 20th anniversary and what it means for Catholic education in NL as well as for the rest of the country, we chatted with Bonaventure Fagan.

Fagan, who was part of the negotiation team on behalf of Catholic schools in the 1990s, also wrote a book about the entire experience. He’s well versed in the province’s history pertaining to that change in the education system.

So, we reached out to him to reflect on the current school state and what other provinces are doing to ensure Catholic education remains a key element of Canadian society.

Read more: Twenty Years Later: A Reflection on the NL Schools Act

CCSTA applauds the federal government’s plan to keep Section 176 of the Criminal Code in place, as it ensures the protection of religious officials and the freedom to worship peacefully without disturbance.

This decision comes after the Liberal Government introduced Bill C-51, which would clean up wording or any redundant content existing within the Code. For instance, they plan to remove the provisions of setting off a stink bomb or duelling.

Though, a widespread backlash arose when the government decided to repeal section 176 of the Criminal Code, which includes “obstructing or violence to or arrest of officiating clergyman disturbing religious worship or certain meetings.”

This section protects religious freedoms and was used as a grounds to charge a woman earlier this year after she allegedly entered a Church in Ottawa screaming and damaged a statue.

Last week, MPs voted to save the section, though with updated language so it more clearly captures all forms of religious and spiritual services.

Last month, CCSTA Board of Directors met with Conservative Justice Shadow Minister and MP for Niagara Falls Rob Nicholson. He made a statement on Nov. 8 regarding the decision to keep it in place. He received hundreds of emails from Canadians pushing to keep it.

“I am pleased that the Government has heard the calls of Canadians from across our nation and has agreed to keep section 176 in place,” Minister Nicholson said. “The disruption of a religious service is serious and should not be treated as a mere mischief charge. It is a fundamental right that greatly affects all Canadians regardless of whether or not you attend religious services. Today is a victory for all faith communities in Canada.”

CCSTA also supports the government’s decision to maintain Section 176.

“To give a judge the ability to refer to a section of the Criminal Code that allows for the protection of clergy is an important element to religious freedom in Canada,” says CCSTA Executive Director Julian Hanlon. “We applaud the government for ensuring the protective rights of Canadians.”