Recently, Student Council members from all seven secondary schools participated in the annual Secondary Student Council Retreat held at C.Y.O. Camp Brébeuf, in Rockwood, Ontario. This overnight retreat was rooted in the Catholic Education Week 2024 theme: Pilgrims of Hope and provided our young Catholic leaders the opportunity to deepen their relationship with God, grow in their teamwork skills as a student council and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation in the outdoors.
As part of the retreat experience and to honour our National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, student leaders were led by the Board’s Indigenous Education, Truth and Reconciliation Consultant in a smudge ceremony and exchange of Semah, traditional tobacco, while working towards building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect.
Additionally, students participated in a Commissioning Liturgy where they were reminded of their calling to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and to serve their communities with love, forgiveness and compassion. In his remarks, David Hansen, Director of Education, thanked the students for answering the call and saying ‘yes’ to serving as young Catholic leaders within their secondary schools.
Student Trustee, Noah Sorgini, shared: “Overall, the retreat was a memorable and fun experience which helped bring my student council together, developed myself as a leader, and deepened my faith and understanding of God.”
