Sudbury Catholic Schools was pleased to welcome Ontario’s Minister of Education, Paul Calandra, for a special visit highlighting the positive impact of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program in local schools. 

Joined by representatives from the Police Association of Ontario (PAO), the Sudbury Police Association, and members of the Greater Sudbury Police Service’s Community Mobilization Unit, Minister Calandra visited St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School and Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School to see firsthand how School Resource Officers help foster safe, welcoming, and supportive learning environments. 

Throughout the visit, students and staff had the opportunity to engage with School Resource Officers, who play an important role in building meaningful relationships with students, promoting positive decision-making, and strengthening trust between youth and police. 

“The School Resource Officer program is about far more than safety, it is about connection,” said Morris Hucal, CEO and CEdO for Sudbury Catholic Schools. “Our officers are valued members of our school communities who take the time to build relationships with students, offer guidance, and create opportunities for positive interactions. We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Greater Sudbury Police Service and for the positive impact this program continues to have in our schools.” 

The visit highlighted the collaborative efforts between schools and police to support student well-being through education, mentorship, and community engagement. By working together, schools and police are helping create environments where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to succeed. 

Sudbury Catholic Schools extends its sincere thanks to Minister Calandra, the Police Association of Ontario, the Sudbury Police Association, and the Greater Sudbury Police Service for taking the time to recognize the value of the School Resource Officer program and its lasting impact on students and school communities. 

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is committed to helping every student reach their full potential within a welcoming and inclusive Catholic learning community. Through partnerships like the School Resource Officer program, the Board continues to strengthen relationships between students and police officers, fostering trust, promoting positive engagement, and creating safe, supportive learning environments where students can thrive. To learn more about Sudbury Catholic Schools, visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca. 

We are thrilled to announce that the SCDSB 2026 Walking Challenge has officially concluded, and what an adventure it has been.  

We would like to thank everyone who came together, stepped up, and got involved this year! It was a fantastic opportunity to embark on this journey together. We are proud of the special way we continue to build fitness into our day and have a little fun in the process. Thank you to all the members of the Wellness Committee for their continued support and leadership as well as all participants who took part.

Walking Challenge Highlights: 

This May, our community took a giant leap forward, and finished strong with an incredible 48,397,045 steps! That’s the equivalent of 36,800 kilometres—enough to walk from Sudbury to Disney World in Florida and back eight times.

But among all 40 teams, we saw three stand out! Without further ado, we are excited to announce that the TOP 3 Teams of the 2026 Walking Challenge are:

• 1^st Place: Prendeici se ci riesci
• 2^nd Place: Redbirds 2.0
• 3^rd Place: The Agony of De Feet

     Congratulations! 

We also want to give a big shoutout to the TOP 15 Teams of the 2026 Walking Challenge! Congratulations to the following teams for their tremendous efforts this year: 

Rank	Team	Total Steps	Team Members
🥇 1	Prendeici se ci riesci	3,495,771	Stephanie Venturi, David Fabiili, Katleen Cameron, David Ranger
🥈 2	Redbirds 2.0	3,352,260	Colin Lapalme, Nancy Perron, Jennifer Skelly, Kevin Krystia
🥉 3	The Agony of De Feet	2,272,425	Faith Van De Kraats, Robyn Thomson, Victoria Sleeman, Melanie Johncox
4	Recess Runners	1,658,110	Natalie Lafrance, Serena Troscinski, Kelsey Franklin, Danika Teddy
5	Step It Like It’s Taught	1,644,691	Meagan Boyd Christopher Kohut Nathan Scruton Christopher van de Ligt
6	Cougar Cruisers	1,556,473	Carlyn Lewis Jessica Sawyer Cathy Hayden Sara Lotter
7	Walkie Talkies	1,554,819	Stephanie O’Bonsawin, Tia Retsinas, Lindsay St Onge, Laura Reilly
8	Miles & Smiles	1,529,129	Sophia Santi, Barbara Savard, Tessa Jewell, Dominica Frometa
9	In Our Strolling Era	1,511,004	Jennifer Ilg, Julie Dakin, Grace Redmond, Jennifer Millette
10	3 Techs and a Teacher	1,473,976	Stacey Copland Pat Hauser Dan Crepeault Dave Hempel
11	Immaculate Cougars	1,409,358	Kristene Romanyszyn Shanna Adler Danielle Mailloux Valerie Merotto
12	Holy Walkamolies	1,400,049	Pat Shewring Andria Field Linda Stasiuk Andrea Jebreen
13	Cards Who Coach	1,387,737	Beth Kromer Massimo Cimino Josh Gardiner Derek Dupuis
14	We Will Walk for Snacks	1,378,332	Karley McGlade, Siobhan Dzuirban, Katrina Shank, Laura Tagliafierro
15	Blistered Sisters	1,349,299	Marah Pardoe, Julie Denomme, Carole Remillard, Wendy Way

Congratulations everyone! Together let’s keep focused on our health and continue our wellness journeys throughout Summer and beyond.

Since joining SCDSB in 2023, Erica has served as a member of the senior administrative team, providing leadership in support of student achievement, well-being, and system priorities. Throughout her tenure, she has worked collaboratively with trustees, school administrators, staff, families, and community partners to advance initiatives that support student success and strengthen Catholic education across the system.

Morris Hucal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Chief Education Officer (CEdO) for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, praised Erica for her outstanding contributions, stating:

“On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, we want to thank Erica for her dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to our students, staff, and families,” said Morris Hucal, Director of Education and CEO. “Throughout her time with our Board, Erica has led with professionalism, compassion, and a genuine passion for Catholic education. She has been a valued member of our leadership team, and her contributions have helped strengthen our schools and support student success. While she will be missed by our Board, we are pleased to see her take on this new opportunity and wish her continued success as she begins this next chapter in her career.”

Reflecting warmly on her time with the organization, Erica expressed her gratitude for the community, stating:

“My time serving with the SCDSB has been a privilege. I’m deeply grateful to have been able to contribute, in my own way, to the success of the students and school communities I have served. I also want to acknowledge the work of school and board staff, whose efforts each day truly make a difference. As I look ahead to the challenge of a new role with another board, I do so while carrying with me many fond memories of the people, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the past three years.”

Please join the entire SCDSB community in thanking Erica for her outstanding leadership and wishing her the very best in her exciting new venture.

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) is excited to announce that St. Charles College Principal Aaron Barry has been appointed as the new Superintendent of Education, effective August 24, 2026.

Aaron brings more than 26 years of experience in education, having held a wide range of roles within the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. Career milestones include positions as a Science Teacher, International Program Lead, Vice-Principal, Principal, Adult Education Principal, Curriculum and Assessment Writer, and system contributor. Since 2014, Aaron has proudly served as a Principal within Sudbury Catholic at St. Albert Adult Learning Centre, Marymount Academy, and currently St. Charles College. Each of these roles have provided Aaron with broad experience in important areas in education such as school improvement, student pathways, Grade 7-12 programming, Adult and Continuing Education, staff development, student well-being, and the alignment of school-level work with Board and Ministry priorities. 

Beyond his professional work, Aaron is also actively involved in the Sudbury community, serving on the Board of Governors at Laurentian University and proudly contributing to the Science Advisory Committee for Science North. An accomplished musician, he also regularly volunteers his time with the Sudbury Symphony. This strong sense of service carries into his passion for education, where he is deeply committed to advancing STEM within a Catholic learning environment. Always in collaboration with his team, he champions innovative, forward-thinking approaches that ensure students are engaged and equipped with meaningful, up-to-date learning experiences in an ever-evolving field.

“We are so pleased to welcome Aaron Barry to the role of Superintendent of Education” said Morris Hucal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Chief Education Officer (CEdO), for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Aaron is a dedicated leader who has spent more than two decades supporting students, staff, and families across our system. His experience, combined with his deep understanding of our schools, will serve our community very well. What truly stands out about Aaron is his passion for education and his commitment to continuous growth and innovation. He cares deeply about creating meaningful learning opportunities for students and supporting staff in their work. I am confident that his leadership will have a positive and lasting impact on our schools and the students we serve.”

“It is a privilege to be entrusted with the role of Superintendent of Education within the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. I value the confidence placed in me and look forward to supporting students, families, and staff across both elementary and secondary schools. With a strong foundation in mathematics and STEM, I remain committed to fostering engaging, modern learning environments that support student achievement while upholding the values of Catholic education.”

– Aaron Barry, Superintendent of Education

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s mission is to realize each student’s potential within an inclusive Catholic learning community by nurturing and developing students through mind, body, and spirit. For more information about the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, please visit www.sudburycatholicschools.ca.  

May 31 to June 6, 2026, is National AccessAbility Week!

National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) is an annual initiative that celebrates, promotes, and showcases the diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in our country, and highlights some of the important initiatives aimed at creating an accessible Canada. Since 2019, Easter Seals Ontario has recognized the Wednesday of National AccessAbility week as the Red Shirt Day of Action for AccessAbility and Inclusion. Everyone is encouraged to wear a red shirt to raise awareness for accessibility and disability inclusion and make a pledge to help remove physical, attitudinal, and systematic barriers in their schools, workplaces, and communities.

Red Shirt Day

Red Shirt Day is an Easter Seals initiative and was first celebrated in 2019. In 2026, Red Shirt Day will take place on Wednesday, June 03. Sudbury Catholic District School Board (SCDSB) students and staff are encouraged to wear red on Red Shirt Day to promote messages of support for people and families living with disabilities.

About Red Shirt Day 

Red Shirt Day of Action for AccessAbility and Inclusion is a day when people across Canada come together and wear red in schools, workplaces and spaces everywhere in order to create a visible display of solidarity: to show their support for persons and families of those who are living with disabilities, celebrate the achievements of people living with disabilities, and to pledge their commitment to help create a fully accessible and inclusive society that honours and values the contributions of people of all abilities in all aspects of life in Canada. Learn more!

Resources 

Red Shirt Day Resources

Red Shirt Day Handout

Red Shirt Day Flag

2026 Poster

Red Shirt Cut-Out

Pledge

Pledge Examples

Colouring Sheets

Comic Strip

Reading List

Movie Lists

Ted Talks

SUDBURY, ON – Approximately 250 students from nine local high schools had to Level Up to get down to business this week at Cambrian College.

The students were on campus for Level Up: Business @ Cambrian, powered by the Douglas A. Smith Family School of Business. The event provided students with an opportunity to experience the world of business.

The students attended four different workshops on the topics of marketing, entrepreneurship, accounting and finance, and business management. 

“The labour market for this generation is going to be quite different from the one experienced by their parents, and they may have to be a lot more business-savvy and entrepreneurial as opposed to working at one employer for life,” explains Jill Ferguson, the Dean of the Douglas A. Smith Family School of Business at Cambrian. “The Level Up event provided students with a taste of the knowledge and skills they may need in the future to thrive, regardless of what career they pursue.”  

“We commend Cambrian College and sponsor KPMG for partnering with us to provide students with a highly valuable learning experience,” says Bruce Bourget, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “We also thank our business teachers who make the learning dynamic and relevant. When students participate in hands-on activities, it reinforces what they learn in the classroom and helps them define possible career options.”

“We’re incredibly appreciative of our partnership with Cambrian College,” adds Morris Hucal, Director of Education at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Events like Level Up give our Sudbury Catholic students a chance to immerse themselves in different areas of business first-hand and start figuring out what paths might be right for them before making those important decisions come post-secondary application time. It’s one thing to learn these principles in the classroom, but it’s another to experience them in such an interactive, hands-on way, and we are thrilled to be a part of this.” 

Level Up also included five $1,000 scholarships, donated by KPMG, to attend one of Cambrian’s business programs. One of the students winning a scholarship is Avianna Dodd-Taylor, a grade 10 student at Lively District Secondary School. 

“It feels amazing to win this scholarship,” explains Dodd Taylor. “I would like to pursue my own business one day, even though I still have to figure out that would be, and this scholarship would sure help.”

Through its Douglas A. Smith Family School of Business, Cambrian College offers nine business-related programs including a three-year Bachelor of Business Administration and a four-year Honours Bachelor of Business Administration. Learn more at https://cambriancollege.ca/schools-of/business.

Photo: Cambrian College hosted Level Up: Business @ Cambrian powered by the Douglas A Smith Family School of Business. The event provides students with an opportunity to experience the world of business. Five scholarships worth $1,000 each were provided by KPMG. Pictured (left to right) are: Massimo Montini, student, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School; Craig O’Neil, faculty, Douglas A. Smith Family School of Business Cambrian College; Preston Dey, student, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School; Taryn Farrell, staff accountant, KPMG; Avianna Dodd-Taylor, student, Lively District Secondary School; Samuel Julius, student, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School; Anthony Zilio, manager, KPMG; Henry Walker, student, Lockerby Secondary School; Jill Ferguson, Dean, Douglas A. Smith Family School of Business, Cambrian College.

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