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Catholic schools are part of the dual system of public education in Alberta. They are publicly funded, and operate under the same provincial legislation (the Education Act) as non-denominational schools. They have been operating in Alberta since the 1840's, before Alberta became a province of Canada.
But what is unique about Catholic schools? The Declaration on Christian Education, published in 1965 following the Second Vatican Council, describes the purpose of a Catholic school as trying "to relate all of human culture to the good news of salvation, so that the light of faith will illumine everything that the students will gradually come to know about the world, about life, and about the human person." Parents, teachers, administrators, trustees, and the entire Catholic community are entrusted in this vital mission.
Parents are recognized as the primary educators of their children, and they choose how their children will be formally educated. Teachers play a crucial role in leading students to an understanding of the world which is illuminated by "the light of faith", and administrators create the environment in which this understanding takes place. The Catholic community is involved through local parishes, which work closely with schools in areas such as sacramental preparation; individually, through the allocation of property taxes; and through the Church, represented by the local Bishop, who is responsible for approving the religious education program taught in the school.
Catholic trustees have a significant role within this partnership. They oversee the operation of their local school district on behalf of the provincial government, and on behalf of the Catholic community who elect them. As such, they are both political and faith leaders in their communities. To support trustees in this unique role, and provide an opportunity to discuss and report on issues significant to Catholic education across the province, the ACSTA was formed in 1966.
As an incorporated society, the ACSTA operates under a set of objectives, and is guided by a mission statement which is developed and approved by the membership.
Today, the Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association (ACSTA) represents all 24 Catholic anglophone and francophone school boards, and 153 trustees, who in turn serve more than 183,500 students in 450 Catholic schools. Our membership includes the Catholic districts of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory and Lloydminster, which is designated as both an Alberta and Saskatchewan jurisdiction. The non-denominational St. Paul Education Regional Division is also a member of ACSTA.
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- Calgary RCSSD
Airdrie, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane and Municipal District of Rockyview - Catholic Education Association of Yukon (CEAY)
- Christ the Redeemer CSSD
Black Diamond, Brooks, Canmore, Drumheller, High River, Okotoks, Oyen, Strathmore and Turner Valley - Conseil scolaire FrancoSud
Calgary, Canmore and Cochrane - Conseil scolaire Centre-Est
Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Plamondon and St. Paul - Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord
Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Jasper, Legal, Red Deer, St. Albert and Wainwright - Conseil scolaire du Nord-Ouest
Falher, Grande Prairie and Peace River - East Central Alberta CSSD
Castor, Halkirk, Provost, Stettler, Vermilion and Wainwright - Edmonton CSSD
- Elk Island CSSD
Camrose, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park and Vegreville - Evergreen CSSD
Devon, Hinton, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Westlock - Fort McMurray RCSSD
- Grande Prairie RCSSD
Beaverlodge, Fairview, Grande Prairie, Sexsmith and Spirit River - Greater St. Albert RCSSD
Legal, Morinville and St. Albert - Holy Family CSSD
Grimshaw, High Prairie, Manning, McLennan, Peace River and Valleyview - Holy Spirit RCSSD
Bow Island, Coaldale, Lethbridge, Picture Butte, Pincher Creek and Taber - Lakeland RCSSD
Bonnyville, Cold Lake and Waskatenau - Living Waters CSSD
Edson, Slave Lake and Whitecourt - Lloydminster RCSSD
- Medicine Hat RCSSD
Dunmore, Medicine Hat and Redcliff - Red Deer CSSD
Innisfail, Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House and Sylvan Lake - St. Paul School Division
Mallaig and St. Paul - St. Thomas Aquinas RCSSD
Beaumont, Drayton Valley, Lacombe, Leduc, Ponoka and Wetaskiwin - Yellowknife Catholic Schools
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Executive Officers
Kelly Whalen, President, Holy Family CSSD
Andrew Gustafson, Vice President, Christ the Redeemer CSSD
Harry Salm, Past President, Christ the Redeemer CSSD
Directors
Mary Martin, Calgary RCSSD
Katherine Williams, Catholic Education Association of YUKON (CEAY)
Jennifer Leclerc, Conseil Scolaire Centre-Est
Giscard Kodiane, Conseil Scolaire Centre-Nord
Geneviève Poulin, Conseil Scolaire FrancoSud
Mario Paradis, Conseil Scolaire du Nord-Ouest
Robert Joseph Gratton, East Central CSSD
Terry Harris, Edmonton CSSD
Ted Paszek, Elk Island CSSD
Jennifer Landry, Evergreen CSSD
Cathie Langmead, Fort McMurray RCSSD
John Croken, Grande Prairie RCSSD
Noreen Radford, Greater St. Albert RCSSD
John Kuran, Holy Family CSSD
Linda Ellefson, Holy Spirit RCSSD
Vince MacDonald, Lakeland RCSSD
Gemma Christie, Living Waters CSSD
Lloydminster RCSSD
Kathy Glasgo, Medicine Hat RCSSD
Cynthia Leyson, Red Deer CSSD
Lorette Andersen, St. Paul School Division
Jolyne De Marco, St. Thomas Aquinas RCSSD
Susan Waddell, Yellowknife Catholic Schools
Ex-Officio
Bishop William McGrattan, Diocese of Calgary
ACSTA Liaison Bishop
Observers
Chantel Axani, CCSSA President, Holy Spirit CSSD
Gary Strother, CCSSA Executive Director
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Who we are:
Mission
Celebrate, preserve, promote, and enhance Catholic education.
Vision
"That all have access to a publicly funded Catholic education."
Core Purpose
We are committed to a unified voice providing spiritual and political leadership for publicly funded Catholic education.
The Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association (ACSTA) was formed in 1966 to support and represent 24 member boards from across Alberta, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. We advocate for the Catholic schools system at the provincial & territorial level, and provide faith-formation and fellowship opportunities for Catholic trustees.
Catholic schools are distinct formational communities that are able to nurture the spiritual, academic, and physical needs of students. We do this by fully permeating the Alberta Education curriculum with our faith - including the teachings of Sacred Scripture, Catholic Tradition and Apostolic authority. Catholic education is a unique partnership between school, home, and parish that seeks to develop a student’s whole person by integrating academic excellence and faith.
The central focus of Catholic education at all levels is Jesus Christ. Every Catholic school is ordered towards Him. Our schools strive to manifest His presence and teachings in the education of children entrusted to our care.
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Please click on the link below to download the following:
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Whereas the aim of Catholic Education is the development of each student towards personal fulfillment and responsible citizenship motivated by the Spirit of the Gospel and modeled on the example of Jesus Christ, the Catholic School Trustee shall, within the duties prescribed in Acts and Regulations and reflecting a ministry within the Church:
- acknowledge that Catholic schools are an expression of the teaching mission of the Church;
- provide an example to the Catholic Community by active participation in the communal life of a parish, and by a personal lifestyle that reflects the teachings of the Church;
- provide the best possible Catholic education according to the programs approved by the Canadian Conference of Catholic bishops and the provincial Minister of Education;
- affirm a strong sense of Christian Community;
- recognize and defend the democratic and corporate authority of the board
- respect the confidentiality of the board;
- strictly support all board policies;
- ensure the affairs of the Board are conducted with openness, justice and compassion; work to improve personal knowledge of current Catholic educational research and practices;
- provide support, encouragement and prayer for the efforts of all persons engaged in the ministry of Catholic Education in Canada.
Canadian Catholic School Trustees' Association
Approved 1998
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- Catholic schools are a publicly funded, vibrant part of the public education system in Alberta, Northwest Territories and Yukon.
- Catholic schools provide an environment for their students which encourages not only high academic achievement, but also person and communal spiritual formation.
- The presence of the Catholic faith is permeated within every element of the school. Our Catholic school communities are guided by faith.
- Indeed, Catholic schools are something special!
- Catholic education has held a longstanding distinct role in Alberta’s public education system. This role existed prior to the creation of the province and then was further solidified constitutionally with the Alberta Act, 1905. Catholic education is still celebrated and continually strengthened today through Alberta’s publicly funded system.
- Enrolment in Catholic schools has experienced a steady increase.
- Within Catholic school communities the values of the Gospel and Catholic teachings are not only taught but they are witnessed and exemplified in action.
- A commitment to the ethics of social justice dwells not only within the walls of the school, but also within the community. This contributes to the wellbeing of our larger communities. Catholic schools celebrate this nurturing and know that it makes Catholic education something special.
- Catholic schools have become a definitive and positive choice for many families.
For more information on Catholic schools in Alberta, Northwest Territories and Yukon, please contact the Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association or your local Catholic school board.
