Board Update
2025 CCSTA Elections
The nomination deadline for CCSTA President and Vice-President closed on May 18, 2025.
We are pleased to announce the following acclamations:
● President: Harry Salm, Christ the Redeemer Catholic Separate School Division (AB)
● Vice-President: Giuseppi Caligiuri, Manitoba Catholic Schools
Honouring Patrick Daly: A Legacy of Leadership
At this year’s Annual General Meeting, CCSTA proudly recognized Patrick Daly for his exceptional service, leadership, and lifelong commitment to Catholic education.
Over the past six years, Pat served CCSTA in key leadership roles—Vice-President, President, and Past President—bringing vision, dedication, and deep faith to every aspect of his work. Pat’s influence extends well beyond CCSTA. For decades, he has championed Catholic education at the local, provincial, and national levels, always advocating for students, families, and the mission of Catholic schools.
Known for his collaborative spirit and unwavering dedication, Pat has earned the respect and admiration of trustees and partners across Canada. As he steps into his new role as Executive Director of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA), we express our deepest gratitude and wish him every success in this next chapter of service.
New Board Appointments
We are pleased to welcome two new Directors to the CCSTA Board:
● Tammy Narynski
The former Principal of St. Charles Catholic School, Tammy is a board member of the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools and a member of the CCSTA 2026 Planning Committee.
● Bev Eckensweiler
A respected and beloved voice for Catholic education in Ontario, Bev will rejoin CCSTA as one of English Ontario’s elected representatives effective June 23, 2025.
Communications
Increased Email Campaigns
CCSTA began sending monthly email newsletters to its subscriber list and has ramped up efforts to increase its audience through invitations and increased visibility on social media platforms. Since increasing the frequency of our emails, open rates have risen and now consistently average around 50%—well above industry benchmarks. We will continue to monitor analytics to maintain a steady and engaged audience.
65th Anniversary
CCSTA’s 65th anniversary logo has been designed and is now featured on our website, promotional materials, and all social media platforms. A commemorative video was also produced and presented during the gala banquet at the Halifax conference.
Member Highlights
The CCSTA Member Highlights project concluded in May 2025, with RCISA-AR featured as the final spotlight. We extend our sincere thanks to each association for contributing valuable insights and information that enriched every article.
Finances
2026 CCSTA Operating Budget
CCSTA’s Board of Directors and membership approved the 2026 proposed budget of $246,467. The budget is predicated on a 2% membership fee increase. This increase, along with a modest reduction in expenses, results in a projected deficit of $7,738. The good news is that enrollment numbers have been steadily increasing. With continued careful management and ongoing increases in enrollment, we are hopeful that CCSTA will achieve a balanced budget in 2027.
Audited Financial Statements
The 2024 operating budget included a $64,704 draw-down from reserves. The audit report reported a deficit of $30,304. The Association’s year-end financial results are better than the budgeted deficit, primarily as a result of significant cost savings realized in the areas of Conventions and Conferences ($16,802), and Political Advocacy ($13,865).
Resolutions and Political Affairs
CCSTA engaged a Canadian communications firm to develop and distribute messaging in support of Catholic education across the country. With the available budget, we successfully designed, printed, and mailed a bilingual postcard to every Member of Parliament following the announcement of the federal election results.
The postcard highlights the value and distinctiveness of Catholic education in Canada. Provincial associations are encouraged to access copies of the publication to print, share digitally, or distribute as part of their own advocacy efforts—especially when engaging with their communities or Members of Provincial Parliament.
At the AGM, members passed two resolutions requesting that CCSTA petition the federal government
to:
- Provide funding to support an alternative to the Indigenous Language and Culture Teacher Certification Programs; and
- Promote and fund policies that support the Canada First approach.
Toonies for Tuition – Supporting Catholic Education Across Canada
Students in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario are blessed with access to publicly funded Catholic education. In many other provinces, however, families make great sacrifices to provide their children with a faith-based education, often paying out-of-pocket tuition fees.
Throughout the year, schools and boards across the country rallied behind the Toonies for Tuition initiative—raising funds to help share the gift of Catholic education in regions with limited or no public funding.
The CCSTA Endowment Fund Committee is deeply grateful to all who contributed to this year’s campaign.
2025-2026 Funding Highlights:
● Funding requested: $383,338 (up from $365,349 in 2024-2025)
● Available for distribution: $197,000 — (up from $134,075 in 2024-2025)
● Assistance granted: 52% of all requests
● Regions supported: Schools in British Columbia, Manitoba, and the Atlantic provinces
2024-2025 Toonies for Tuition Trophy Challenge Winners
Each year, CCSTA presents awards to the school board/division and province with the highest per-capita
fundraising totals. Congratulations to this year’s recipients:
● School Board/Division: Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division (SK)
● Province: Saskatchewan
Thanks to the incredible support of Catholic school communities nationwide, many students will now have the opportunity to grow, learn, and live in Christ through a Catholic education. Let us continue to lift each other up and ensure that Catholic education remains accessible to all families—regardless of geography or financial circumstance.
Future Conference and AGM Dates
2026
Dates: June 4-6, 2026
Hosts: Manitoba Catholic Schools
Location: Radisson Hotel, Winnipeg
CCSTA is currently seeking a host for 2027. If your province, organization, division or district is interested in hosting an upcoming Conference and AGM, please contact the CCSTA office at info@ccsta.ca.
