From left: Durham MPP Granville Anderson, Northumberland-Quinte West MPP Lou Rinaldi, Student Trustee Zachary Smith, Director of Education Michael Nasello, Board Chairperson Michelle Griepsma, Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal and Bishop William McGrattan.

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) was blessed to host Bishop William McGrattan and three area MPPs – Jeff Leal (Peterborough), Granville Anderson (Durham) and Lou Rinaldi (Northumberland-Quinte West) – for an evening discussion about Catholic education on Jan. 23, 2017.

Board Chairperson Michelle Griepsma and Director of Education Michael Nasello talked about some of the important challenges facing Catholic education, outlined some of the Board’s recent successes and thanked the MPPs for their ongoing support.

Board trustees, superintendents and union leaders also took the opportunity to dialogue with the MPPs.

All three MPPs told personal stories about their strong connection to Catholic education and reiterated their government’s support for Catholic education now and into the future.

“It is so important that Catholic education continues to play the great role it does to educate our young leaders in the province today,” said Leal, referring to Catholic education as a “compass” that helps navigate graduates through the important stages in their lives. “I want to thank you for developing one of the finest parts of Ontario’s public education system.”

Bishop McGrattan, who will be leaving soon to start his new role as the Bishop of Calgary, thanked PVNC leaders for continuing to strengthen the bonds between our schools and parishes.

“I have felt since coming here as the Bishop a sense that we wanted to work together to strengthen education for our young people. I have seen the initiative that we have in developing a curriculum both in the parish and in the school as something that has been very very important,” he said. “As I leave, I want to encourage you to carry that torch.”

Article provided by the PVNC CDSB.