Walking Together in Hope and Reconciliation: April 7 PD Day Inspires KCDSB Staff
On April 7, staff across the Kenora Catholic District School Board came together in community and reflection for a system-wide Professional Development Day grounded in faith, hope, and reconciliation.
The day began with a spiritual retreat titled Pilgrims of Hope, held in both Kenora and Red Lake. At St. John School in Red Lake, Anne O’Brien, Director of Catholic Education for the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, led a faith-filled retreat experience focused on the upcoming Jubilee Year. Through prayer, reflection, and dialogue, Anne invited staff to consider how we can foster classrooms that are welcoming, spiritually rich, and rooted in community.
In Kenora, Rev. Msgr. Pat Stilla delivered a powerful keynote, encouraging staff to embrace “active hope” in their daily work and relationships. He reflected on the challenges many face — from stress to disconnection — and reminded everyone to focus on what truly matters. He urged staff to be people of joy, compassion, and faith, even in difficult times.
Later in the day, staff engaged in a powerful learning session with Dr. Niigaan Sinclair, an award-winning writer, journalist, and professor. His workshop, Climbing the Mountain, explored how reconciliation can be brought to life in schools — not just in lesson plans, but in school culture, classrooms, and hallways.
“Jesus would wear an orange shirt,” Dr. Sinclair shared, powerfully connecting faith with justice and healing. He reminded educators that reconciliation is for everyone — it’s about relationships, resilience, and ensuring that every child knows they matter.
Dr. Sinclair reminded us that we are all in this together - part of a shared community with a collective responsibility to create spaces where every child feels they belong.
Dr. Sinclair emphasized that Indigenous education should be embedded into everyday learning, empowering students to see themselves reflected in the spaces around them and inviting all of us to be part of lasting change.
Educators also participated in equity-focused sessions, grounded in Catholic Social Teaching and designed to help close achievement gaps, support diverse student needs, and promote dignity and belonging in every classroom.
Director of Education Nicole Kurtz shared her appreciation for the spirit of learning and reflection that filled the day:
“This day was an opportunity for all of us to reconnect with our purpose and deepen our commitment to Catholic education and reconciliation. The learning, the stories, and the reflections shared will stay with us as we continue building communities where every child knows they matter.”
At KCDSB, we are walking forward together — in faith, in hope, and in relationship.