The Prince Albert Catholic School Division will be celebrating 140 years during the 2026-2027 school year.
The division is planning celebrations throughout the year beginning with the opening week.
Education Director Lorel Trumier said the official anniversary is not until March 2027, since the founding papers were signed in 1887, but they play to start the celebration early.
“We’re going to kick start the school year with the official opening of the 140th year,” Trumier said.
Plans include inviting Minister of Education Everett Hindley and having the new bishop celebrate the opening mass.
Bishop Kenneth Thorson will be presiding over the opening mass in one of his first duties after his ordination, which took place on Aug. 22 at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
“We’re excited to have him and just feel so blessed to have his presence as we work into this 140th year of operation,” Trumier said.
There will also be a staff appreciation luncheon during the opening week.
The division is also launching their new Strategic Plan with a theme of ‘Christ is Alive’. According to a memo to the board during their Aug. 17 meeting for 140
“Catholic Education in Prince Albert has been grounded in the belief that every child is created in the image of God and blessed with unique gifts,” reads a memo to the board. “Generations of students, families, educators, clergy, religious and community members have contributed to a strong tradition that has nurtured faith, fostered hope and prepared young people to lead lives of purpose and compassion.”
Trumier credited previous generations for keeping the division going strong for so long. She said it’s incredible to think back to the first little log schoolhouse along the riverbank, not far
from the current location of Ecole St. Mary High School, and see the progress that has been made.
“My personal and professional reflection has been just one of gratitude and awe, to have the parents, students and staff build an educational community around their faith,” Trumier said.
“It’s just quite amazing and I think of the obstacles, I think of the challenges, I think of how readily available were natural resources but not any other type of resources to educate.
“I feel like we’re standing on the ability to just really value what education means and that’s what it means. This Catholic education community values this work and we’ve been able to sustain it with the partnerships that we’ve had with our clergy, our religious, our community, our organizations around us, our staff, our families, our students.”
Trumier said that the Ecole St. Mary High School graduation ceremony in June also made her reflect on what happens after students leave the schools.
“The quality of children and education and where they go and who they become is quite impressive. There’s a long list of alum who have been very successful in the world around us,” Trumier said.
She said that seeing all of the success matches the goals set by the founding of the division 140 years ago,
“Our goal is to have children learn for life and be successful in life through Catholic education. Not saying we always got it right, but we’re trying very hard to keep that legacy and that support to continue to move forward.”
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
