Learn more about your Calgary Catholic School District Board of Trustees!
The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) is deeply committed to ‘strengthening and nurturing relationships that respect justice, equity, inclusion, and the diversity of our community’. This guiding statement in our board priorities is imperative to promote and support diverse cultures and racial justice not only in our school communities but directly with our students. Through faith, our work on racial justice strives to gain an understanding and support the diversity of our students, their families, employees, communities, and educational partners.
JEDI Team
Our district is proud to have a Racial Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) team whose focus is on supporting leadership, learning, teaching, and community engagement. The JEDI team, which is part of the Arts and Culture department, consists of JEDI consultants and FACE (Family and Community Engagement) workers, dedicated to bringing a culturally responsive lens in approach, fostering awareness, and understanding to better serve all our communities. Together, they offer a holistic approach to help meet the ever-changing needs of the district. Many professional growth opportunities are available throughout the year for district employees. To further engage and communicate knowledge and understanding of the JEDI work, each district site has a JEDI representative. The JEDI representatives can be found in elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and other district work sites.
Black History Month
February is also Black History Month, a time for Canadians to celebrate the diversity, history, and culture of Black people in Canada and to acknowledge their many contributions. Every year since 2019, Calgary Catholic proudly creates a poster series highlighting individuals from the Black community for their significant contributions and impact. Each school and worksite receive copies of the posters and the entire district acknowledges the month through activities, speakers, and engagement in culture from all Black communities. Wakefield Brewster, Calgary Poet Laureate and Lisa La Touche, a CCSD alumni, are two of the individuals being recognized in this year’s poster series. They will both be offering a district-wide online session for students during the month of February. The work toward social justice is ongoing and important events that promote diverse and inclusive communities take place throughout the year. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination will be recognized on March 21, 2024. This year, our JEDI team will mark this important date with sessions at junior and senior high schools focusing on allyship and solidarity.
Our Catholic faith compels us to uphold the dignity of every individual and work towards ensuring that “all members of our community are sacred and must be treated with dignity and respect.” The Board of Trustees is incredibly proud of the JEDI team’s outstanding work which enriches the education and well-being of our students and staff.
Shannon Cook, Chair, CCSD Board of Trustees
