The Kenora Catholic District School Board is excited to welcome two new Student Trustees for the 2022 – 2023 school year. St. Thomas Aquinas High School held elections on April 26, and Zhaawan Kavanaugh was elected as the incoming First Nation Student Trustee, while Josh Pitt was elected as the incoming Catholic Student Trustee. Elizabeth Favreau will continue for a second term serving as Catholic Student Trustee and will assume the role of mentor, leading and supporting the Student Trustee Team throughout the year.
Current Student Trustees Maxwell Froese, and Antoine-Marie Skead, gathered with Kavanaugh and Pitt at the Catholic Education Centre on May 4 for the Ontario Catholic Student Youth Day Conference hosted by the Ontario Catholic Trustees’ Association and organized by provincial student trustee leadership. The conference is part of Catholic Education Week 2022 – Rebuild, Restore, Renew Together. During the virtual event, students heard a keynote address from His Eminence, Thomas Cardinal Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto and also received presentations from Peace and Development and a presentation about Period Poverty from Windsor-Essex CDSB.
After the conference, Elder Terry Skead provided a blessing and prayer for Zhaawan and gifted her a ribbon skirt to give her strength and guidance as she embarks on the new leadership role as First Nation Student Trustee. Antonie-Marie Skead currently holds the role of First Nation Student Trustee and is the first student at Kenora Catholic to be elected to the position.
Zhaawan Kavanaugh and Josh Pitt will be formally welcomed and introduced to the Trustees at the May 17 Board Meeting and will receive their Rite of Commissioning in September when they begin their new term of office.
Student Trustees serve a vital role at the boardroom table, representing students in decisions about education and keeping their peers informed about important information that impacts their education. They make monthly reports at the Regular Board Meetings, attend provincial conferences, and are called upon to participate in special projects for the Board.
Student Trustees hold an influential seat at the regular board meetings, where they have the opportunity to hear from decision-makers and learn about new programs and initiatives across the Board.
Back Row L to R: Antonie-Marie Skead and Maxwell Froese
Front Row L to R: Zhaawan Kavanaugh and Josh Pitt