OCSB Black Employee Network (BEN)

What a beautiful day of faith, reflection and community at Christian Community Day 2026! 🙏💛 This year’s theme, We Are Called to Nourish New Beginnings, came to life in meaningful ways throughout the day. Our Indigenous Education team opened the day with drumming and shared the teaching of the drum’s connection to the heartbeat of a mother, offering a powerful reflection on life, connection and new beginnings. Swimming also became a meaningful thread throughout the day. Through stories shared by our CEO, Mary Donaghy, and keynote speaker Danielle Campo, we heard how a love of swimming opened new beginnings at different points in their lives, and how that love continued to be nourished along the way. Their stories reflected many of the lessons swimming can teach us: resilience, hard work, perseverance and a lifelong appreciation for physical activity. Our MCs helped bring those connections back to the theme of nourishing new beginnings, while Auxiliary Bishop Yvan Mathieu, S.M., connected the imagery of water to our faith through Baptism, new life and new beginnings. Paralympic gold medallist and motivational speaker Danielle Campo brought those themes to life through her own incredible journey. From pursuing her dream of becoming a Paralympian to facing serious health challenges and fighting for her life, Danielle shared a powerful message of perseverance, hope and finding the strength to begin again. And through it all, we returned to the words, “Thy will be done.” A reminder that nourishing new beginnings also means having faith, trusting in God’s plan and remaining open to where He may lead us next. 💛 #ocsbNewBeginnings #ocsbCCDay #ocsbRE #ocsbCCD

What does reconciliation look like in a school? 🧡 It can begin with listening to a Residential School Survivor. Asking questions. Learning from Indigenous voices. Sharing stories. Or creating an orange heart with a younger student. Throughout Truth and Reconciliation Week, students and staff across the OCSB took part in meaningful learning about Indigenous histories, cultures and perspectives, the ongoing impacts of the Residential School System, and our shared responsibility towards reconciliation. From Notre Dame, to St. Anne, to St. George, see how students are listening, learning and carrying these conversations forward. 🧡 Read the full story: ocsb.ca/2026/09/30/truth-and… #ocsbIndigenous #OCSB #TruthAndReconciliation #EveryChildMatters #ocsbBeCommunity

💚🤍 Happy Franco-Ontarian Day! Today, the OCSB celebrates the French language, Francophone culture, and the students, staff, and families who enrich our schools and communities every day. #FrancoOntarianDay #JourDesFrancoOntariens #ocsbNewBeginnings