The first new high school to be built in Brantford in more than 30 years has a name.
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The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board has named the school St. Padre Pio Catholic Secondary School. The board decided on the name at a meeting Tuesday.
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Born May 25, 1887 in the Archdiocese of Benevento Italy, St Padre Pio was a follower of St. Francis of Assisi and became a Capuchin Franciscan friar and priest in 1910, the board said in a release. He fully demonstrated his love for everyone by welcoming countless people to his ministry and he gave himself to everyone, rekindling their faith, dispensing grace, and bringing light to their lives.
St. Padre Pio was especially known for his ministry to the poor, the suffering, and the sick, as he saw the image of Christ in them.
Pope John Paul II recognized Padre Pio as a saint on June 16, 2002 He is the patron saint of civil defense, volunteers, adolescents, and the village of Pietrelcina Italy.
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The new high school will be built on the north side of Powerline Road, between Greenfield and Old Farm Roads in Brantford.
Assumption College School is the last secondary school to be built in Brantford and opened in 1992.
Trustees also approved Pope Francis Catholic Elementary School as the name for the new school being built near the intersection of MacLachlan Ave and Whitehorn Crescent in Caledonia.
“The communities of Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, and the City of Brantford are growing exponentially,” school board chair Rick Petrella said. “Due to the continued unprecedented increased enrollment in our system, the BHNCDSB has formulated a vision to support and continue offering Catholic education in facilities that offer progressive learning opportunities for the students of tomorrow.”
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The new secondary school will focus on skilled trades and advanced technologies. The board is working with industry and community partners to ensure it is being built in a way that prepares students for the jobs of tomorrow, Petrella said.
“We want to ensure that our graduates are well-prepared to begin their post-secondary journeys including seeking occupations that don’t yet exist in 2023,” Petrella said. “The secondary school, which is open access and available to both Catholic and non-Catholic families, is being fast-tracked to address the severe over-population of local area high schools. “It is scheduled to open its doors and welcome students in September 2026.”
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