What is a School Board Trustee?  

School board trustees are locally elected members of the public who serve as champions for public education in our community. As part of the board, a trustee helps fulfill the board’s responsibilities under Ontario’s Education Act. 

Trustees keep student achievement and well-being at the centre of every decision they make. They work to benefit the school board district, while also representing the interests and concerns of the families and communities who elected them. A key part of the role is two-way communication: trustees share the board’s decisions and priorities with their constituents, and they bring community perspectives back to the board table. 

What Does a Trustee Do? 

As elected representatives, Catholic School Trustees are accountable to Catholic school electors in the following areas: 

• Setting the system’s mission and multi-year strategic plan  
• Supporting student achievement across the school community  
• Establishing and monitoring the annual budget  
• Developing policies that ensure the board operates efficiently  
• Determining the type, size, and location of schools  
• Hiring the Chief Executive Officer 

Who Can Run to Become a Catholic School Board Trustee? 

To be eligible for election to a four-year term as a Catholic School Trustee, you must be: 

• A Roman Catholic 
• A Catholic school supporter 
• A resident within the jurisdiction of the district Catholic school board 
• A Canadian citizen 
• At least 18 years of age 

Municipal Elections 

Municipal and school board elections take place every four years. The next municipal and school board election will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026.  

Nine Trustees will be elected to the Waterloo Catholic District School Board in the 2026 municipal election, including: 

• Three from Cambridge / North Dumfries 
• Four from Kitchener / Wilmot 
• Two from Waterloo / Wellesley / Woolwich 

For information about elected municipal offices, please view the information for your municipality found in the links below: 

• City of Cambridge 
• City of Kitchener 
• City of Waterloo 
• Township of North Dumfries 
• Township of Wellesley 
• Township of Wilmot 
• Township of Woolwich 

Trustee Candidate Nomination 

Please note that the candidate nomination period runs from Friday, May 1, 2026 – Friday, August 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.   

Learn More about Catholic School Trustees 

Visit the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association website to learn more about becoming a Catholic School Board Trustee.

WATERLOO REGION – July 7, 2026 – The Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) is pleased to announce that the Ontario Ministry of Education has approved $91,240,874 in capital funding for four projects that will create new and renewed learning spaces for nearly 2,000 students across the region. 

The funding, approved through the Ministry’s Capital Priorities Program, supports the following projects: 

1. New Doon South Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener): A new 645-pupil-place elementary school, including a five-room childcare centre providing 88 new licensed childcare spaces. Approved funding: $32,420,130. 
2. Monsignor Haller Catholic Elementary School Addition (Kitchener): A 282-pupil-place addition, along with retrofits to existing instructional and operational spaces. Approved funding: $17,236,450. 
3. New St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School (Kitchener): A new 657-pupil-place replacement school. Approved funding: $28,818,332. 
4. Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School Addition (Cambridge): A 368-pupil-place addition, including new operational areas. Approved funding: $12,765,962. 

Together, the four projects will create 1,952 new or renewed student places and 88 new licensed childcare spaces for families in Waterloo Region. 

“This is wonderful news for our students, families and staff,” said Annalisa Varano, Director of Education and CEO of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. “These investments mean more children will learn, grow and be formed in faith in modern, welcoming spaces close to home, and more families will have access to the childcare they need. Catholic education has served this region for generations, grounding learning in faith and community, and these new and renewed spaces will allow us to carry that mission forward for the next generation of students. We are grateful to the Ministry of Education for recognizing the urgent accommodation needs in our growing communities, and we look forward to moving these projects forward.” 

The projects were approved in two stages: the New St. Bernadette and Monsignor Doyle projects through Phase 2 of the 2025-26 Capital Priorities Program, and the New Doon South and Monsignor Haller projects through Phase 1 of the 2026-27 Capital Priorities Program. Each will proceed through the Ministry’s Enhanced Capital Accountability Framework, with project milestones to be confirmed through a Project Commitment agreement between the board and the Ministry. 

Specific timelines for each project, including anticipated construction start and completion dates, have not yet been confirmed. These details will be finalized as planning advances, and updates will be provided along the way. 

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board serves more than 28,000 students across 52 schools in Waterloo Region, providing a Catholic education rooted in faith, academic excellence, and service to others. 

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Media Contact:  

Lema Salaymeh
Senior Manager of Communications
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Lema.Salaymeh@wcdsb.ca  

We are pleased to share that Angela McHardy and Jordan Figueiredo have been appointed as Superintendents of Learning with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, effective August 24, 2026.

Angela joins us from the London District Catholic School Board. She is recognized for her experience in special education, inclusive practices, and faith-centered leadership, and has led diverse school communities while advocating for equitable outcomes and high achievement for all learners. As Principal of Amethyst Demonstration School, Southwestern Ontario’s provincially designated Tier 3 intervention school, she led specialized programming for some of Ontario’s highest-needs learners, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on evidence-based intervention models that strengthened literacy and numeracy outcomes. She serves as the Elementary Principal Representative on SEAC and is an instructor for CPCO’s Special Education for Administrators program.

Jordan is known to many as a dedicated and respected faith-filled leader, most recently serving as Principal of St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School in Cambridge, where he led the school through a period of significant growth and transformation. He is known for creating cultures of belonging, collaboration, and innovation, and has a long-standing commitment to coaching and mentorship, recently completing his term as President of District 8 Athletics. Through his leadership on board-level committees, including the current Multi-Year Strategic Plan, Jordan has helped lead system improvement and alignment.

Please congratulate Angela and Jordan on this well-deserved appointment. We look forward to the continued impact they will make in service of our students, staff, and school communities.