Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board

On Thursday, August 20, the SMCDSB was honoured to welcome Minister of Education Paul Calandra to the new site of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Bradford!

Minister Calandra hosted a press conference detailing Ontario’s commitment to expanding educational infrastructure. Highlights of the morning included a tour of our new building—opening this September to over 500 students—a media Q&A session, and a photo shoot with school leaders.

Special thanks to our team members in attendance.

We can’t wait to welcome our students, staff, and families to their new school home this fall! 💙

To learn more, visit our website smcdsb.on.ca.

From learning instruments during the pandemic to writing and producing an entire album! 🎧

Congratulations to Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School graduate Jordan Bosco on releasing his debut album, Careful. The self-produced project blends synth-pop and R&B while sharing an important message about mental health awareness.

Check out the full article to read about his journey: tinyurl.com/mvz5w2e3

Careful drops on all major streaming platforms on August 15. Check out his debut album and follow his journey on Instagram at

🎉 Exciting news 🎉

Drama teacher Tina Osburn from Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School in Orillia has been selected as one of the winners of the Breakfast Television Fill-in Co-Host Contest!

After submitting a video and completing an online interview, Tina earned the opportunity to host this Tuesday, August 4th from 8-10 a.m.!

With her passion for drama and performing, we have no doubt that she is going to shine on TV too!

Congrats Tina!! 🥳👏

Student Spotlight! 👏🏊‍♂️

Huge congratulations to Our Lady of the Bay Catholic High School student Liam Paterson, who was recently featured by Swim Ontario!

Liam isn't just one of Canada's top age-group swimmers—he’s an Honour Roll student, a mentor to younger athletes, and a fantastic example of hard work, integrity, and perseverance. His commitment to excellence in the classroom, the pool, and his community reflects the very best of our Catholic Graduate Expectations.

We are so proud of you, Liam! Keep up the amazing work! 🌟

The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) is excited to share the official names of the new Catholic elementary schools in Bradford and Tottenham, scheduled to open in September and November of this year. Following a popular vote by the school community, the new Bradford school will be named St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School, and the new school in Tottenham will be named Our Lady of Peace Catholic Elementary School.

The name selection process involved several steps: establishing a selection committee, gathering name suggestions from the community (including students, staff, and family members), narrowing the choices to three finalists, and holding a community-wide vote to select the final name. Both names were officially approved by the Ministry of Education and Cardinal Frank Leo.

Rooted in the Catholic faith, both school names reflect values that will help shape their communities for generations to come. Saint Vincent de Paul is remembered for his extraordinary compassion and dedication to service, while Our Lady of Peace honours Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a model of grace and reconciliation. Together, these names serve as a lasting reminder of the faith, service, and caring relationships at the heart of Catholic education.

"A school name carries a story, a purpose, and a promise," said Kimberly Dixon, Chief Executive Officer of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. "Both of these school names reflect the values of compassion, service, faith, and hope that are at the heart of Catholic education. We look forward to building vibrant school communities where students can learn, grow, and thrive in an environment rooted in faith and belonging."

Schools are closed for the summer, but registrations continue to be accepted through the Registration Page of the SMCDSB website. School offices will reopen the week of August 24, 2026.

Happy Canada Day!

Today, we're celebrating the people, places, and communities that make Canada home. We hope you have the chance to enjoy the day with family, friends, and neighbours, and to appreciate all that brings us together.

From all of us at the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, we wish you a safe, happy, and blessed Canada Day.

St. Joseph, Patron Saint of Canada, pray for us.

We had a fantastic time meeting families at the Family Picnic at Sunnidale Park on June 16! Our SMCDSB Welcome to Kindergarten table was a busy stop for many of the 233 visitors. It was wonderful to welcome so many preschoolers, infants and caregivers to the event. The little ones enjoyed playing with blocks musical instruments and chalk, and families walked away with great take-home gifts like multicultural crayons, books, stickers, and our favourite playdough recipe on a handy fridge magnet.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to play, chat, and connect—you made the day so special! If you missed us at the park, it’s not too late to join the fun! Head over to our website to learn more about our Kindergarten program: smcdsb.on.ca/kindergarten.