The board of Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools wishes to clarify the basis for Catholic public education in Alberta. We are aware of perspectives presented by those interviewed for recent stories associated with our school division that question the legitimacy of our educational mandate.
Many of the original school districts in Alberta and Saskatchewan were in fact Catholic public schools. In his book, Alberta Catholic Schools … A Social History, N. Tkach refers to 17 Roman Catholic Public School Districts (RCPSD) by name that were established between 1885 and 1905. Among the original 17 were St. Albert RCPSD No. 3, formed in 1885, and Thibault (Morinville) RCPSD No. 35, formed in 1892. Legal RCPSD No. 1738, formed in 1907, was a part of the amalgamation of the St. Albert and Thibault (Morinville) districts in 1995 to form the Catholic Public Regional School Division that is now known as Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools.
The basis for the formation of Catholic public districts previously mentioned, or any other that have occurred through time, originates from the Northwest Territories Acts, 1875-1905, the Northwest Territories Ordinances, 1884-1901, and the Alberta Act, 1905.
The current School Act defines a public district as one that is established “pursuant to this Act or any predecessor Act or Ordinance.” The source legislation previously outlined provides the rational link to a public school district designated to be “Catholic Public” in nature.
The historical nature of Catholic public education in our province to present day has been constantly recognized by the courts in Canada, and a most recent reference is found in a unanimous decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in 2000:
“Presently, both Protestant and Roman Catholic ‘separate’ schools co-exist within Alberta along side public schools. Public schools are generally not religiously affiliated, but specific population patterns have given rise to at least one Roman Catholic public school in Alberta.”
That reference is, of course, to Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools, and reinforces our constitutional legitimacy.
It is important that perspectives regarding Catholic education in our region do not dismiss the legitimacy of its existence as evidenced through history, provincial legislation, and ultimately, the highest Court in our country.
The Board of Trustees, Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools
