Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board Recognizes Religious Orders with Catholic Award of Merit

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Vice-Chair Sharon Hobin (l. to r.) with Jacqueline de Verteuil CSJ and Janet Speth CSJ who is
receiving a painting entitled “Future Leaders” from Board Chair Anna Abbruscato.

On Tuesday, September 27, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board honoured seven Religious Orders and Diocesan Priests with the board’s Catholic Award of Merit. These orders were instrumental in the development of Catholic education in Dufferin-Peel.

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic Award of Merit is presented in recognition of “outstanding contribution to the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and Catholic education.” Past recipients of the award include The Honourable William G. Davis, former premier of Ontario, Joseph Hugel, first director of education of the Dufferin-Peel Roman Catholic Separate School Board, and Victor Morgado, former Dufferin-Peel student who was a catalyst in the events leading up to the full funding of Catholic schools in 1985.

Representatives from the following Orders accepted the award:

• Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto
• Grey Sisters
• Notre Dame Sisters
• Basilian Fathers
• Loretto Sisters
• Ursuline Sisters
• Felician Sisters
• Bishop John A. Boissonneau, on behalf of Diocesan Priests

For the Sisters of St Joseph, Jacqueline de Verteuil, CSJ and Janet Speth, CSJ received the award, a bright colourful painting of a schoolyard with young children playing. Entitled “Future Leaders” it is a wonderful tribute to the vision of the Sisters and Priests who taught in the schools and the hopes and aspirations they instilled in the students. This spirit prevails today. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is one of the largest and most diverse school boards in Ontario, with approximately 85,000 students in 146 schools located throughout Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon and Orangeville. With over 10,000 employees, the board is also one of the largest employers in the region. The Board also presented the Sisters with a book entitled: Our Story. Our Tradition. Our Journey. Celebrating the Church-School Connection in Dufferin-Peel.

The presentation took place at the September 27 Board Meeting and was preceded by a beautifully catered social/reception where the guests experienced the warm hospitality of the board members, the superintendents and staff.

By Janet Speth CSJ

Photo courtesy of Julia Seeratan, Communications Officer, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board