Update: April 17, 2025

Following several months of public consultation, the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board has decided not to move forward with a name change.

The consultation invited thousands of students, families, staff, and community members to share their perspectives on whether the Board’s name should change to better reflect the regions it serves. While the process sparked thoughtful and passionate feedback, no single name emerged with the broad support required to proceed.

“We committed to a transparent process and took the time to listen to our communities,” said Stephen O’Sullivan, Director of Education. “What we heard was a deep pride in Catholic education and strong connections to our Board’s identity. We may not have reached consensus on a new name, but the feedback we received was thoughtful and sincere, and the engagement from our communities was deeply appreciated.”

The consultation process was conducted as part of the Board’s broader multi-year strategic planning process. No additional costs were incurred.

“We were encouraged by the number of people who engaged with this process and by the passion they shared from every part of our Board,” said Kevin MacKenzie, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. “It’s clear that our communities care deeply about Catholic education and the future of PVNC Catholic. We want to thank everyone who took the time to participate.”

While the Board’s name will remain the same, a visual brand refresh—including a new logo—will take place in the months ahead as part of the Board’s ongoing strategic planning efforts.

Updated: Mar. 18, 2025

Our renaming journey has reached an exciting stage, and we need your input! After careful review of community feedback, the Board’s Ad Hoc Naming Committee has chosen a shortlist of potential names that align with the established criteria: Inclusivity, Simplicity, and Representation.

Now, it's your turn. Have Your Say: Rank, Rate, and Recommend to help shape the final decision.

Have Your Say: Rank, Rate, and Recommend

We’re asking for your feedback in three key ways:

1. Rank the Shortlisted Names

Put the four shortlisted names in order of preference (1 = Most Preferred, 4 = Least Preferred). Your rankings will help us determine which name has the broadest support.

2. Rate Each Name

Give each name a star rating (1 to 5) based on your preference. This provides valuable insight into how each name resonates with our community.

3. Recommend a New Name (Optional)

If you believe there is a name that better reflects our Board’s identity—and the Ad Hoc Naming Committee hasn’t already reviewed and eliminated it—you can submit it for consideration.

All suggestions must align with our selection criteria:

• Inclusive – Represents the communities we serve
• Simple – Clear, easy to say, and memorable
• Representative – Aligns with our Catholic identity and geographic scope

To see which names were previously reviewed and won’t be reconsidered, check out the longlist of names in the Document Library.

The Shortlisted Names

• Holy Trinity Catholic District School Board
• Lakeside Catholic District School Board
• Oak Ridges Catholic District School Board
• Sacred Waters Catholic District School Board

What Happens Next?

Once the consultation closes, the Ad Hoc Naming Committee will:

• Review the ranking results and feedback
• Consider any new name suggestions that meet the criteria
• If a new name receives strong support and aligns with the criteria, it may be added to a final round of consultation
• Present the final recommended name to the Board of Trustees for approval

Why Your Input Matters

A name is more than just words—it’s a reflection of who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going. Your participation helps ensure that our new name truly represents our students, families, and communities.

Consultation Closes: April 7, 2025

The Ad Hoc Naming Committee is made up of 15 members representing a broad cross-section of our community, including:

• Trustees
• Director of Education
• Superintendents
• Union representatives from CUPE and OECTA
• Principals, vice-principals, and teachers
• Diocese representation
• Members of the Board’s Equity and Indigenous teams
• Communication Services

This committee is responsible for reviewing consultation feedback and guiding the final decision-making process.

Dec. 9, 2024

We are preparing to embark on the renewal of our Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) in 2025. This process will provide students, staff, families, and communities with the opportunity to offer feedback and help shape the Board's roadmap for the next several years and beyond.

As we get set to renew our MYSP, we’re taking a fresh look at how well our board’s name reflects who we are and the communities we serve now and into the future. We believe it’s time to ask a big question:

Does our name—Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board—represent us effectively?

Here’s why we think it may be time for a change:

• It’s too long and complicated: At 23 syllables, ours is the longest school board name in Ontario. Its length presents challenges. It’s hard to say. It’s hard to remember. It can be challenging for our communities to find and connect with us.
• It’s not inclusive: The name doesn’t acknowledge all the communities we serve, such as the City of Kawartha Lakes. Victoria County was dissolved in 2001.
• It confuses prospective families: The length and complexity of our name create confusion about who we are and the areas we serve. This confusion may impact our ability to maintain or grow enrollment, which directly impacts the funding we receive as a board.
• It may affect our ability to attract staff: In a highly competitive provincial market, teachers and support staff are choosing organizations that stand out with clear, cohesive identities. A refreshed name and brand may help position our board as an appealing, welcoming, and dynamic place to work.

We need your feedback to decide if now is the right time to address this issue as part of our next MYSP. Your input will help us weigh community interest against financial and practical considerations. Please note: Our MYSP plan will include a full engagement process, which will provide opportunities for stakeholders to address the Board's key priority areas. This process will be communicated as we prepare to launch the MYSP in 2025.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts in our brief survey, open until January 10, 2025. It will only take a few minutes but your feedback will help shape the future of our Catholic school board.

A New Chapter: Moving Forward with our Name Change

UPDATE: Jan. 29, 2025

Thank You for Your Engagement
We are pleased to report that 71% of survey respondents support exploring a new name for our board. We deeply appreciate the time and thoughtful input our community has provided throughout this process. Your feedback is invaluable, and we are committed to ensuring that your voices continue to shape this important decision.

Next Steps in the Process
With your support, we are moving forward by establishing a Naming Committee. This committee will develop a shortlist of potential new names, which will be shared with the community for further feedback. Your input will continue to be valued as we proceed.

What We Heard
Through your feedback, several key themes emerged:

• Inclusivity – The desire for a name that better represents all communities we serve, including the City of Kawartha Lakes.
• Simplicity – A preference for a shorter, easier-to-remember name.
• Representation – The importance of reflecting our Catholic identity while embracing the diverse areas we serve.
• Community Involvement – A strong interest in staying engaged throughout the process, which we are committed to ensuring.

Click on the Community Feedback tab below to review more detailed feedback from our survey.

Addressing Your Concerns
We also acknowledge the important feedback received from those with concerns. Key themes include:

• Financial Considerations – Many stakeholders emphasized the importance of prioritizing resources for classroom and student support.
• Educational Priorities – Concerns were raised about focusing on critical educational needs such as staffing, programming, and student well-being.
• Usability of the Current Name – Some respondents feel the existing name, though long, is well-known and does not require a change.

We understand that some community members have concerns about resource allocation, and we want to assure you that we are approaching this process with care and responsibility.

Ensuring that classroom resources remain a top priority is at the heart of our decision-making. We are committed to making any necessary changes in a way that does not divert funding away from students and staff.

Additionally, you will have further opportunities to provide input on resource allocation through the upcoming Multi-Year Strategic Plan consultation, set to launch in March. This process will allow the community to have a direct say in shaping the board’s future priorities, including how resources are distributed.

Managing Costs Responsibly
There will be some one-time costs associated with a name change; however, we are committed to proceeding prudently. No resources will be diverted from classroom supports. The primary expenses will focus on graphic design for a new logo and brand guidelines, updating key physical signage at facilities, and in-house staff time to update electronic records and digital assets such as the corporate website. Other necessary changes will be implemented gradually to manage costs effectively.

We appreciate your continued engagement and encourage you to stay connected for updates on the Naming Committee's progress

Thank you to everyone who participated in the "Our Name, Our Story" engagement process. Your voices have been instrumental in shaping the future direction of our board, and we are excited to share a summary of the key findings from the consultation.

The survey was conducted from December 9, 2024, to January 10, 2025, and during this period, we received 1391 contributions, including students, parents, staff, and community members across our regions. This feedback has provided us with deep insights into how our board name is perceived and what our stakeholders believe is important as we consider a change.

Through a combination of survey responses and comments, several key themes have emerged that highlight both the opportunities and concerns surrounding a potential name change. We’ve summarized these themes below to ensure transparency and keep our community informed every step of the way.

We invite you to review the summarized findings below, which highlight the main themes and insights gathered from the consultation. For a more detailed look, including direct insights pulled from the qualitative data, view the presentation available in the Document Library. Your continued involvement will be critical as we move forward.

Thank you again for your engagement and support.