On April 15, 2025 the Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association welcomed over 40 members of the Legislative Assembly and more than 60 Catholic school board trustees from 17 separate and francophone member boards to our 2025 MLA Reception in Edmonton.
This annual event provides a valuable opportunity for trustees to build relationships with legislators from across the province, and to advocate for the future of Alberta’s publicly funded Catholic Education system.
The formal portion of the evening began with a prayer led by Archbishop Richard Smith. It was a particularly special moment, marking his final time with ACSTA in his role as the Education Liaison Bishop before departing from the Archdiocese of Edmonton to take on his new role as Archbishop of Vancouver. We are deeply grateful for his years of leadership and support, and we ask that God’s blessings be upon him as he embarks on this next chapter of service.
In his remarks, ACSTA President Kelly Whalen reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to working collaboratively with all MLAs to support Catholic education.
“Catholic education is not only a constitutional right but a choice that thousands of Albertan families continue to make. As we look to the future, ACSTA remains committed to working with all of you – across party lines – to ensure Catholic education continues to flourish and remains a strong and accessible choice for Alberta families.”
Kelly Whalen, ACSTA President
Premier Danielle Smith underscored her government’s support for school choice and faith-based education. “Catholic education presents an excellent choice for families,” she said, “laying the foundation for academic excellence, moral development, and a deep sense of community service.”
Leader of the New Democratic Party of Alberta, Mr. Naheed Nenshi, emphasized the importance of removing barriers to education for all Alberta children, regardless of their background. “You don’t have to lobby any of my colleagues here tonight, we get it. We understand,” he said. “Every single child in this province, growing up in every single circumstance, deserves the best education in the world without any barriers. Catholic public education is a really critical part of that. We've heard that it's an important part of our history; it is an important part of our future.”
The event once again affirmed strong support for Catholic education across the political spectrum.
ACSTA is a non-partisan advocacy organization dedicated to celebrating, preserving, promoting and enhancing publicly funded Catholic education across Alberta, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. We represent 24 member boards, who collectively serve over 200,000 students and their families.
