Nine Catholic School Principals from Alberta and Ontario have been named an Outstanding Principal by The Learning Partnership.

A well-respected award, Canada’s Outstanding Principals recognizes outstanding contributions of principals in publicly funded schools. It honours principals from every province and territory in Canada who demonstrate innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and who have done something truly remarkable in public education.

With just four provinces providing public funding to Catholic schools, the award numbers are impressive. Only 40 principals were selected, and nearly a quarter of those hail from Catholic schools.

“This outcome really shows us just how much of a positive impact Catholic educators have on the school community,” says CCSTA President Marino Gazzola.

Canada’s Outstanding Principals is both a nationally recognized award and an Executive Leadership Training Program. Launched in 2005, the executive leadership program was created, in partnership with Rotman School of Management, to strengthen the education system in Canada by developing its leaders in publicly funded schools across Canada. The program offers principals from across Canada, who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their schools and community, the opportunity to be brought to Toronto to be recognized nationally as innovative educators at an annual gala awards evening for 500 guests; to experience a five-day executive leadership training program at the Rotman School of Management; and become part of a National Academy of Principals, a pan-Canadian learning community of over 400 Canada’s Outstanding Principals alumni.

Read more: Nine Catholic School Principals Recognized with 2018 Canada's Outstanding Principals Award

When Paul Bourassa talks about how he first became a Catholic school trustee six years ago, he has two things to say about it: he signed on by default and he is so happy he did.

“There was an email circulated to the parents of the Catholic Francophone schools asking for candidates to be trustees as the incumbent had stepped down.  When the first email came, I hoped someone would step up.  When the second email came because no one had stepped up, I discussed it with my wife and whether I could make the time commitment,” he explains. “After that discussion, I put my name forward and have never regretted it.  I have input and influence over my children's and all our children's education which is great responsibility and honour. I have no regrets.”

Since putting his name in, he’s served as a Catholic trustee for Conseil scolaire FrancoSud and he’s continued his involvement with Catholic education.

Paul joined the Alberta Catholic Schools Trustees’ Association’s Board of Directors and recently came on as Vice President. Prior to the New Year, he joined CCSTA as the Alberta representative.

While he’s been in the trustee role for six years, Paul’s relationship with Catholic education started long ago.

Read more: Paul Bourassa Welcomed as Alberta/NWT/Yukon Rep for CCSTA Board of Directors

From docking a spacecraft to building an M-bot to designing a stop-motion picture production, students across two Catholic school boards in Northern Ontario have taken technology to an entirely new level – and it’s because of their teachers’ belief in what’s to come.

Northwest Catholic District School Board and the Kenora Catholic District School Board recently teamed up to launch a video showcasing a collaborative project called The Impact of Learning Technologies.

The project studied the impact of technology on student learning over an eight-month period.

The video included interviews with both students and faculty. As the students showcase their finished projects, they share their insights on the process and creating projects that integrate technology. It’s clear the students are sold on it.

Read more: “It makes kids do really cool stuff”: Northern Ontario Catholic School Boards on Technology in the...