Latest news with #HaltonDistrictSchoolBoard


Hamilton Spectator
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Halton District School Board's Free Summer Camp Celebrates Black Identity and Culture
The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is once again demonstrating its commitment to equity and culturally responsive education through Exploring Us 2025, a free three-week summer camp hosted by the HDSB's Graduation Coaches for grade 6 to 8 students. The program strives to affirm the identities of Black-identifying students, foster relationships, unleash creativity, and create lasting memories. Shelita Walker, System Principal of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusive Education at HDSB, says, 'Through our HDSB Student Voices Report, Black students continue to tell us there's still work to do when it comes to addressing anti-Black racism in schools and creating spaces where they truly feel they belong, where their identities are seen, valued, and affirmed.' Exploring Us 2025 is a chance for students to connect with each other and with Graduation Coaches while learning about the diversity of the African diaspora — both its history and its ongoing contributions. 'There's always a bit of hesitation about giving up part of the summer, which is completely understandable, but every year, students who take part tell us they're really glad they did,' says Walker. Her words reaffirm why this camp is both timely and a much-needed resource for Black students growing up in Halton Region. The program, now at capacity, is led by HDSB's Graduation Coaches and offers a dynamic, engaging experience that centres Black identity, history, and joy. Running from July 8 to July 24, the camp features weekly themes that take students on an immersive cultural journey — from ancient African civilizations to the Caribbean diaspora and the histories of Black Canadians. Through hands-on workshops, field trips, games, storytelling, and art, students are invited to connect with their heritage, explore identity, and build community in a supportive space. In the first week, students delve into the innovation and legacy of ancient African civilizations through creative projects, collaborative activities, and cultural games that spark curiosity and connection. The second week celebrates the richness and resilience of Afro-Caribbean traditions. Through storytelling, music, and interactive arts, students explore language, folklore, and rhythms that reflect their heritage and inspire creative expression. The final week brings the focus closer to home, exploring the experiences and contributions of Black Canadians. Students engage in activities that highlight history, identity, and belonging, while also exploring connections between cultural heritage, beauty, and self-expression. Camp experiences are grounded in creativity and collaboration and further enhanced with experiential learning through field trips. 'Graduation Coaches have been such an important part of our board and a real support for the students they work with. The connections they build, during the school year and even through the summer, go a long way in helping students feel grounded in who they are. They really help students see what's possible and encourage them to go after their goals. It just shows how powerful intentional relationships can be,' says Walker. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .


Hamilton Spectator
11-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Halton school board projects $7M budget deficit despite ‘reductions of 90 staffing positions'
A projected $7-million budget deficit looms over the Halton District School Board (HDSB) for the upcoming school year and needs Ministry of Education approval before any action can be taken. According to an email from spokesperson Heather Francey, the projected '$7.1-million deficit' is after the board made 'reductions of $9 million and 90 staffing positions.' In a repor t posted on its website, HDSB explained ministry sign-off is required when a school board anticipates a deficit of more than one per cent of its budget or has a shortfall for two consecutive years. According to the report, the board's total budget is just over $1 billion ($1,061,054,441). This puts its projected shortfall within the one per cent limitation. However, this is its second consecutive year of deficit. Last year's budget gap was $1.8 million . The report listed increasing sick leave replacement costs, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board claims, unfunded statutory benefits (enhancement of CPP contribution), inflation related to learning resources and technology, and declining enrolment as main reasons for the deficit. It is projecting a enrolment decrease of 1.5 per cent compared to the last school year. HDSB's business services superintendent and treasurer Roxana Negoi said, in an email statement, financial pressures have increased with declining enrolment, reducing overall funding from the ministry. However, the decline is projected to be 'temporary' with 'growth expected in 2027-28.' According to the treasurer, the board has made 'significant reductions' over the past two years, while also drawing on accumulated surplus to help students and staff get the required resources and supports. Curtis Ennis, the board's education director, said the budget reflects feedback from the community and staff. 'Informed by the valuable feedback received earlier this year through the budget input process, which engaged students, staff, families and community members, the budget reflects a thoughtful balance of priorities, savings and efficiencies,' Ennis said in a separate statement. According to board chair Amy Collard, the choices HDSB made were not 'easy' but 'necessary' to ensure the current and future needs of students can be met. 'We've taken a careful, multi-year approach to managing the budget that prioritizes students' academic success and classroom resources, while making responsible and transparent financial decisions,' Collard wrote. HDSB's deficit elimination plan outlines recommendations for meeting the $7.1-million shortfall, including 'proposed future reductions' of permanent and temporary positions. Collard said the school board is committed to working in partnership with the Ministry of Education 'to advance our shared goal of providing the best education possible for students.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .


Hamilton Spectator
03-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
‘NO CLASSES': PA day gives elementary students in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills a three-day weekend
It's not a holiday, but elementary school students in the Halton public and Catholic school boards can look forward to a long weekend this week. Both school boards have announced a professional activity (PA) day for Friday, June 6. The Halton District School Board (HDSB) states on its calendar and website Friday is a professional activity day for school staff. 'Therefore, there are no classes for students,' the board notes. Unlike the last PA day on April 4, the June 6 day off applies only to elementary students and staff. Secondary students in the public and Catholic boards will observe a PA day on June 27, which effectively shortens the school year by one day. But elementary students in both the public and Catholic boards will be dismissed 90 minutes early on June 27, for an early start to the summer break. The Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) is also holding a professional activity day for elementary school staff on June 6. That means elementary students will also enjoy a three-day weekend. The Catholic board notes staff will be completing Term 2 report cards as per the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) collective agreement. Like the public board, the June 6 HCDSB PA day only applies to elementary students. Like the public board, HCDSB secondary students receive a day off for a PA Day on June 27, which would otherwise be the last day of classes. HCDSB elementary students will be dismissed 90 minutes early on June 27, the same as students in the public board. The HDSB's online calendar offers important dates like upcoming holidays and PA days. The same information is available from the Catholic board's calendar . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .


Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Rising Stars: 16 Students Awarded Scholarships by African Caribbean Council of Halton
On May 23, the African Caribbean Council of Halton (ACCH) held their third annual Black Excellence Scholarship Awards and Fundraising event. The ACCH is a non-profit organization whose aim is to strengthen and empower the African Caribbean community through political and educational advocacy, and collaboration with other community groups. Scholarships, like the ones given out last Friday to graduating students who met the ACCH's criteria, are another empowerment tool the group uses. The award is open to students of African, Caribbean, and Black descent. Students must attend a high school in Halton and have been accepted to a post-secondary institution. According to the ACCH website, students are also expected to be involved in community work and the Black History Month initiative. Recipients are expected to mentor other students, volunteer, and be ambassadors of the community. Sixteen awards were given out, seven for Halton District School Board (HDSB) students and nine for Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) students. The event was held at Burlington's Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School and was attended by many dignitaries, including politicians, a Halton Regional Police Service officer, and both school board directors. The ceremony was held in the school gym, with tables and chairs set up for guests. A Jamaican dinner was prepared for attendees, which was served after the scholarships were handed out. Students also walked around with a QR code on their phones, which enabled attendees to donate to the ACCH. Adejisola B. H. Atiba (also known as Lady ABHA), founder and board chair, spoke first at the event and talked about the importance of nurturing our youth. 'We always say our students are our future,' Atiba said. 'But they are only our future if we invest in them today.' Atiba also spoke about how valuable time is and quoted an African proverb about asking for help. 'Time is your most precious currency,' Atiba said. 'It doesn't wait. It doesn't pause, and you can't rewind it. How you use it determines what you become.' 'Lean on your mentors, your teachers, and your elders,' Atiba continued. 'Seeking guidance is a strength. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.' Atiba finished with an analogy to guide students going forward. 'Time is your seed, mentorship is your soil, and intentional living is how you bloom,' Atiba said. Edosa Adams-Idode, president of ACCH, spoke next and outlined the three pillars that, for her, make these awards essential. 'Ownership is number one,' Adams-Idode said. 'We cannot complain that our youths are not successful without a conducive and collaborative environment to recognize their hard work, leadership, and service of volunteerism, which is the bedrock of our Canadian values.' 'The second pillar is the link between student achievement and mentorship,' Adams-Idode continued. 'Where one is weak, the other is compromised. Without both, there can be no trust in our educational system. And finally, the last pillar is investing in our youth. That's where we look to the future with hope and confidence.' Adams-Idode noted that she thinks this group of recipients will produce many MPs and the future prime minister. Paul Sharman, Burlington Ward 5 councillor, followed with reflections on the rewards of public service, encouraging the students to consider careers rooted in empathy and community impact. 'The best career of all is being an elected official, because that way I can make contributions to the community,' Sharman said. 'And as you think about your careers, if you think about your empathy, doing good for the community, doing good for your families, and for your loved ones, that is the biggest gift you can give the world.' Milton Regional Councillor Sammy Ijaz (Ward 3) reiterated the importance of time when he stepped up to the front of the room to speak. 'If you waste time today, at some point, time will waste you,' Ijaz said. 'That's not a promise, it's a commitment of time. If you do justice to time, time will do justice to you. But if you do injustice to time, time will catch up and then do injustice to you.' Curtis Ennis, director of education for HDSB, urged the students never to let go of their dreams and emphasized the importance of perseverance. 'Never lose your dream,' Ennis said. 'Regardless of what anyone says, work hard, stick to it, and never lose your dream. You are going to be discouraged. You're going to find others who are trying to stop you, but never lose your dream because you, and you alone, along with the determination, the purpose, and the resilience that you have, determine where you end up.' 'When you are locked in, when you are focused, when you are determined, when you are committed, there is nobody or nothing that can stop you from becoming who you were created to be, absolutely nothing or no one,' Ennis continued. 'I believe that to my core, I believe that every single one of you here has a gift and a purpose that you must realize, and so do not be distracted.' John Klein, director of education for HCDSB, drew on faith in expressing his hopes for the students' futures. 'There is a very old saying in the church that says, 'The glory of God is humanity, fully alive,'' Klein said. 'So I'd ask you to think about what it means to be fully alive for those that you encounter each and every day, how you honour them and how you respect them. And that's really my prayer and my hope for you.' Ryan Smith, a staff sergeant for Halton police, spoke of the lasting impact the students will have on the community and how they will help shape Halton going forward. 'Don't lose the fact that you will have such a tremendous impact on this community for generations to come,' Smith said. Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP for Oakville North-Burlington, was not present at the event, but sent a video message that was played via projector. In it, Triantafilopoulos spoke about her continued involvement with the ACCH's work. 'As part of my commitment to the important work done by ACCH leaders, each summer I offer a job in my community office to one of the successful recipients and will be doing so again this summer,' Triantafilopoulos said. 'So, please contact ACCH if you're interested in better understanding how the Ontario government works.' The following students were honoured with scholarships at the event:


CBC
23-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Ontario Votes 2025: Burlington
Social Sharing Read all of CBC Hamilton's coverage of the Ontario election here. With a population of around 187,000, the Burlington riding encompasses most of the city, except for parts of its north end east of the Queen Elizabeth Way and Upper Middle Road and north of Walkers Line and Guelph Line. The area is highly dependent on the surrounding manufacturing industry, as many in Burlington commute to Toronto or Hamilton for work. The riding has historically leaned toward the Progressive Conservatives, but in 2014, Ontario Liberal Party candidate Eleanor McMahon was elected for the role, giving Burlington its first Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in 71 years. The Liberals' takeover was short-lived, however, as the PCs reclaimed the seat in 2018 with Jane McKenna taking it back. The sitting MPP is Natalie Pierre, who won the election for the PCs in 2022 with 42.5 per cent of the vote, and is running again. The major party candidates running against her are Megan Beauchemin with the Ontario New Democratic Party, Andrea Grebenc with the Liberals and Kyle Hutton with the Green Party of Ontario. CBC Hamilton reached out to all major party candidates or their representatives asking them to fill out a questionnaire. The responses of those who filled it out are reflected below. Also running in Burlington are James "Chilli" Chillington, with the New Blue Party and David Crombie with the None of the Above Direct Democracy Party. Megan Beauchemin, NDP Beauchemin, 27, is a chemical engineer and University of Waterloo graduate working in the automotive industry and a long-time Burlington resident. "I think we need more young people, more women, and more diversity of experiences in politics. I bring all of this to the table," she said. "Along with a genuine belief that the NDP's policies are what Ontario needs now." Beauchemin said she has a "clear understanding" of many challenges facing the riding and is "committed to listening" to her community. She said the top three of those issues are healthcare, education and housing. Andrea Grebenc, Liberal Grebenc is a former Halton District School Board Trustee for Wards 3 & 6 in Burlington and led the board for four years in 2018. She has been a Burlington resident for over 40 years, according to her party profile, and told CBC she is an IT business owner since 1999 and was a longtime instructor at Mcmaster University. She says her top priorities are health care, saying Joseph Brant Hospital "is underfunded," affordability and education. "As a school board trustee and chair of the Halton District School Board, my direct cell phone number was publicly available—and people used it," she said. "No one is more passionate than a parent advocating for their child. I fought against increasing class sizes, the mandatory four online courses for graduation, and the harmful proposed changes to the Ontario Autism Program. Our voices were heard, and ministry direction changed." Kyle Hutton, Green Hutton, 34, is a data organizer for an environmental non-profit and a resident of Burlington for over 20 years, he said. He said cost of living, healthcare access, and housing are three of the most prevalent issues he's heard from people and said his party has plans for each of those that include basic income, hiring new doctors, and building new homes within urban boundaries. "I'm running so Ontario has a chance to vote for a new kind of government, one that puts people over profit, and get us back on track for success," he said. Natalie Pierre, PC Pierre did not answer CBC's questionnaire before publication. She has been in office since 2022 and led hiring and recruitment at Sheridan College before that. She has largely focused on mental health and is currently parliamentary assistant to the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and to the Minister of Sport. Pierre and the PCs also promised funding for a new mental health unit at the Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington in November. Also running