PETERBOROUGH, ON –The Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU), CUPE 997 and CUPE 1453,  representing more than 1,700 education workers across the Trillium Lakelands District School Board and the  Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board are urging the Ford  government and Education Minister Paul Calandra to begin collective bargaining with unions as soon as  possible, as severe underfunding and chronic staffing shortages continue to harm students and education  workers across Ontario — including in the Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes areas.  

“There can be no ‘business as usual’ while education workers and students bear the brunt of chronic  underfunding,” said Joe Tigani, President of the OSBCU. “Early bargaining is critical to stabilizing our schools  and addressing the staffing crisis before it becomes even more severe.” 

CUPE-OSBCU is urging the government to come to the bargaining table prepared to increase staffing levels in  schools across the province, improve supports for students, and make necessary investments in publicly funded  and publicly delivered education in Ontario. 

School boards are already warning CUPE locals that thousands of education workers could be laid off for  September 2026 following the expiry of the current collective agreement in August. These potential cuts come  at a time when schools are already struggling to meet students’ needs due to years of inadequate funding and  chronic understaffing. 

“We need to begin bargaining as soon as possible because the staffing crisis in our schools is already causing  real harm,” said Lianne Barley, President of CUPE 997, representing education workers at the Trillium  Lakelands District School Board. “There is a ‘Plan B’ in place so that when staff are absent, they are generally not replaced until the fourth day of absence. The lack of replacement workers means employees are coming to  work sick, workloads are piling up, and violence in the workplace is increasing because schools are simply  understaffed.” 

“CUPE 1453 is ready to get to the table immediately, and we fully support the OSBCU’s call for the Ontario  government to begin bargaining as soon as possible,” said Nora Shaughnessy, President of CUPE 1453,  representing education workers at PVNCCDSB. “Right now, our schools are extremely underfunded, and it’s  our students who are paying the price. Many are not getting the supports they need, and our staffing levels  simply aren’t enough to meet growing demands. The chronic shortage of Educational Assistants has led to  escalating physical and mental health issues among staff, many of whom are working through breaks and  lunches just to meet the needs of students. Violence in schools is on the rise, and workers are telling us it’s  becoming increasingly difficult to maintain safe, effective learning environments.” 

The OSBCU, CUPE 997 and CUPE 1453 are ready to go to the bargaining table at any time. Early bargaining  is essential to provide certainty for students, parents, and education workers — and to prevent yet another  school year marked by a crisis of underfunding and understaffing of public education. Minister Calandra can  issue a regulation to allow bargaining to start up to 180 days before the expiry of the current agreement at the  end of August — as early as the beginning of March.  

“Our members are burned out,” said Barley. “Custodians are working short-staffed for years, Education  Assistants are forfeiting much needed breaks while being scheduled to support multiple high-needs students,  and temporary workers are exhausted before they ever reach permanent status. Bargaining can’t wait. We need  solutions now to protect workers, students, and the integrity of our schools.” 

Key Stats: 

• The Ford government has underfunded public education by $6.3 billion, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. 
• According to the OSBCU, the Ford government has cut per-pupil funding by $1.4 billion in the 2025- 2026 school year. 
• CUPE education workers in Ontario are currently working the equivalent of 1,355.5 Full-Time  Equivalent (FTE) jobs worth of unpaid work. 
• 96 percent of CUPE Educational Assistants and Child and Youth Workers in Ontario experience violent  or disruptive incidents in their workplace; 55 percent say it happens every day. 
• Despite government claims about “historic funding” for schools, student to staff ratios have not improved  since the Ford Conservative government took office in 2018. In fact, for some job classifications, student  to staff ratios are worse now than in 2018. 
• Agreements that limit school boards’ ability to cut education jobs expire on August 30, 2026, meaning  there could be mass layoffs (as several boards have indicated will happen) for the start of the next  school year in September – unless those agreements can be renewed through collective bargaining.  

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At the June 24 Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) Special Public Meeting of the Board, trustees approved the balanced budget for the 2025-2026 school year of just over $279 million.

Through careful planning and consistent financial stewardship year after year, the 2025-2026 budget allocates resources to programs, staffing, technology, and support systems designed to optimize student learning outcomes and overall well-being.

“This budget reflects a strong commitment to student achievement in alignment with the TLDSB Strategic Plan goals. With the resources available, TLDSB can continue to provide meaningful learning through the tools needed, experiences, and educational environments that foster equity, inclusion, and belonging,” says director of education, Wes Hahn.

“A balanced budget prioritizes equitable access to educational experiences in TLDSB, fundamentally recognizing and responding to the diverse and evolving needs of all learners in our communities. This commitment reinforces the Board’s dedication to nurturing safe, inclusive spaces where every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed,” added superintendent of Business Services, Nicole Britton.

Trustees were presented with a breakdown of the funding amounts within the Core Education Funds from the Ministry of Education, as well as the responsive education programs. The six areas of Core Education Funds are classroom staffing, learning resources, special education, school facilities, student transportation, and school/board administration.

The final 2025-2026 Budget is available on the Public Sector Reports page on the Board’s website.

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An inaugural V.K. Greer Memorial Public School (VKG) Water Walk took place on June 11 to remind students and staff that water is living and teach them about the importance of respecting and protecting the natural resource of water.

Supported by the Trillium Lakelands District School Board Student Success Team, and guided by Oshkaabewis Dave Rice of Wasauksing First Nation, Elder Christopher Stock, and Oshbeenis Tabitha Lamoureux, the morning kicked off at the school with a teaching about the importance of water. Each class had two water carriers and were given copper cups to transport water to Mary Lake from a natural water source close to the school. Some students were also given a drum to beat while walking, which represented the heartbeat of all living things. Once students and staff arrived at the beach, a ceremony was performed releasing the water back to the lake.

“We are all connected to water, as it grounds us, runs through us, and is essential for our survival so we need to respect and protect it,” explained VKG staff, Kailey Richter and Lynn Marshall. “The importance of water is woven throughout the Ontario Curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 8, so in many ways, the Water Walk is a culminating activity for our learning. We hope to further build relationships and respect for the original caretakers of the land through teachings and sharing with/from Elders and Knowledge Holders.”

Throughout the school year, VKG works closely with their Indigenous partners and community members to build meaningful relationships and offer students teaching opportunities, such as learning about the Haudenaushanee and Anishinaabe culture, Ohenten Kariwatekwen (otherwise known as the Thanksgiving Address), and Niizhwaaswi G’mishomisinaanig (The Seven Grandfathers).

“This day was magical. Our Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and friends invited us to this incredible celebration of learning, water, and community,” said VKG principal, Kelli Gates. “This day will be remembered by students and their families for a long time to come. It was a true honour. Chi Miigwech, Nia:wen to all who supported this day.”

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For a number of years now, Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (HHSS) has kicked off Pride Month by hosting a Pride Week and organizing a number of activities for students to take part in.

The activities are run by the school’s leadership classes, with an overall goal of promoting inclusivity and helping two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual plus (2SLGBTQIA+) students feel represented and welcomed within the school.

“I’m incredibly proud of our leadership students and staff who took the lead in organizing this year’s Pride Week events as one of the many things they do throughout the year. Their thoughtful planning, compassion, and excitement for the events were noticeable and reflects the spirit of our school,” said HHSS principal, Jennifer Mills. “I am also deeply thankful to everyone who took part – staff, students, and our communities. Being kind and welcoming to everyone is a core value here, and it’s important to me that every person in our school community knows they belong.”

This year’s celebrations took place the first week of June and included:

Theme days

Students were invited to wear specific coloured clothing throughout the week via a different theme on each day, including Rainbow Day, Be Bold Day, Favourite Colour Day, and Show Your Pride Day. The leadership classes sold HHSS designed pride t-shirts prior to the week for students and staff to purchase.

Dramatic Reading and Coffee House

On June 3, the school hosted a Dramatic Reading of the play She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen. The initiative invited students from all Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) secondary schools to audition, and also attend the show.

She Kills Monsters follows the story of sisters Agnes and Tilly. After Tilly’s death, Agnes finds Tilly’s journal, which was written in the format of a Dungeons and Dragons quest and uses it to learn more about her sister. Through magical quests and battling monsters, Agnes learns the side of Tilly she never knew, and everyone learns ways to accept themselves in 90s America.

The production had a great turn out, with students attending from Fenelon Falls Secondary School, HHSS, I.E. Weldon Secondary School, and the Virtual Learning Centre.

“This initiative gave students the opportunity to express themselves fully on stage, knowing that it was a safe space,” said HHSS teacher lead, Christine Carr. “They could play roles that reflected themselves and see it normalized. They also saw the acceptance that is out there — from TLDSB, the students from other secondary schools, and to hear the laughs and positive responses from the audience members. Pride Week at HHSS is not only about promoting Pride, but about creating a safe space for students of all genders and sexualities, and this helped make that goal visible.”

“This was an amazing experience and it was an honour to be included. It felt very welcoming and we all had the ability to just be ourselves,” explained HHSS student, Spencer Zumpano, who played Chuck. “I wish there were more opportunities like this out there for queer youth to be themselves and not feel like you’re being shunned from the light of day.”

“Working on She Kills Monsters was a really great way to dip my toes into the dramatic arts, and I have now found that I love working on these types of projects. It sparked a passion for acting and collaboration that I didn’t know I had, and I’m excited to keep exploring theatre and performance in the future,” said Virtual Learning Centre student, Emily Austin-Ward, who played Orcus.

The reading was followed by a coffee house, which offered snacks and drinks to students, and also invited them to an open mic session where they sang and played instruments.

Queer Youth BBQ

In collaboration with the Haliburton County Youth Wellness Hub and Pride in the Highlands, the school hosted an after school BBQ on June 5 that invited all students and their families to come, eat, socialize, play video games, and celebrate pride.

Annual Colour Run

To end the week, the school held their annual Colour Run on June 6! Students were invited by the schools leadership classes to take part in an array of activities, including running/walking around the track, painting, an inflatable slide, button making, bubble blowing, tattooing, spike ball, parachuting, tug-a-war, and corn-hole. A number of community partners were also present to speak with students about services available in the community.

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On April 23, the third Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) Young Entrepreneurs in Action Showcase took place at the Fleming College Frost Campus in Lindsay.

In this Dragon’s Den style event, 13 participants made up of individual students and teams from secondary schools across the Board presented a five to seven minute business pitch to four community judges: Victoria Jessup from Kindred Coffee Bar, Hailey Bennett and Catherine Smith from Ampere, and David Cowdery from Launch Kawartha. Each of the judges are actively involved in entrepreneurship in varied ways, and not only used their business experience to decide the winnings, but also provided students with probing questions and advice to help advance their understanding about design thinking and what it means to start a company.

During the day, students heard from guest speaker, bestselling author, and solopreneur, Dennis Geelen, about how to build bold, profitable businesses with less hustle and more heart.

“It was so nice to see the next generation of entrepreneurs having the courage to bring their ideas forward,” said Geelen. “I was honoured to get to share some wisdom and inspiration with them. The future is bright!”

After much deliberation, the winnings were revealed and all 13 participants were awarded $12,000 in total!

The top pitch was awarded to Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute student, Ollie Ferguson, for his company Donut Designs — a graphic design company focused on designing video game race cars and custom small scale models of race cars. Ferguson will now move on to the Provincial Showcase at the Ontario Skills Competition in Toronto on May 6.

“The TLDSB business pitch event was spectacular! I was super impressed with the other students’ ideas and I believed everyone had a good shot at winning,” said Ferguson. “Being able to get feedback from the judges really helped me understand what I can do to excel my pitch and become a better entrepreneur.”

“I am so impressed by the students. In addition to the innovative business ideas, they demonstrated incredible presentation skills and composure in a very nerve-wracking situation!” said TLDSB Experiential Learning Consultant, Katie Albisser. “The dragons presented the students with challenging questions about their businesses and they responded with composure and grace. This event promotes business skills, but the students have also gained tremendous skills in problem-solving, organization, financial literacy, and public speaking.”

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Muskoka Beechgrove Public School (MBPS) students and staff recently visited local senior homes in Gravenhurst to hand-deliver a Valentine’s Day surprise!

The school-wide initiative invited all students, staff, and families to make Valentine’s Day-themed cards. Then, on February 14, students visited three local retirement homes, The Manor at Gravenhurst Retirement Residence, Granite Ridge Retirement Residence, and the Muskoka Shores Care Community, to deliver the cards and an individually wrapped cookie to each resident thanks to Boston Pizza Gravenhurst for the donated cookies.

In total, 380 cards were delivered to seniors!

“The school has always had a partnership with The Manor, where students and staff make special things for the residents on occasions/holidays. We always make Valentine’s cards, and then thought maybe we could go bigger and have cards sent to all seniors in Gravenhurst,” explained MBPS administrative assistant, Katrina MacDonald. “My overall goal is to create community relationships with our senior homes, and hopefully put a smile on their face. Our focus has been kindness and this is a perfect way for students and staff to help spread kindness in the community.”

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Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) has opened registration for students starting Kindergarten in September 2025 for children turning four this year.

TLDSB offers both junior and senior Kindergarten programs, where our youngest students develop a strong foundation for learning in all areas.

At this stage, students grow through play-based learning and small group instruction with caring educators. Students will learn about language and math, engage in healthy physical activities and the arts, and develop socially and emotionally through interaction with their peers and educators who guide them.

Parents/guardians of children who are turning four in 2025 are encouraged to visit the Kindergarten Registration page on tldsb.ca to register their child(ren) and learn more about the programs. To find out which elementary school your child(ren) will attend based on the home address, use the School Locator. All contact information for our elementary schools can be found on the Board Directory.

September may seem like a far way away, but it’s important for TLDSB to know how many students are enrolled so that staffing and spaces for the upcoming school year can be made. TLDSB asks all parents/guardians to register their child(ren) by February 28.

If you have further questions, contact your child(ren)’s local elementary school.

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With the new year comes new zones for transportation cancellations on inclement weather days across Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB). Parents/guardians were notified earlier today of the plan to localize transportation cancellations through implementing a zoned approach for inclement weather days effective immediately.

“Beginning tomorrow, January 7, TLDSB will be moving to a zoned approach. This means that on inclement weather days, the Board will communicate which zone(s) is impacted by transportation cancellations,” stated in the letter to parents/guardians.

If transportation is cancelled in one or more zones due to inclement weather, no buses will travel to any schools within the cancelled zone. A reminder that schools within the affected zone(s) will remain open and learning opportunities will continue. Parents/guardians will be responsible for transportation of their students who are able to safely attend school on inclement weather days. Drop-off and pick-up must occur in alignment with the regular school day start and end times.

Route specific information

Route specific information is available on mybustoschool.ca. Parents/guardians can subscribe to receive notifications when their child(ren)’s bus is delayed by 15 minutes or more and/or cancelled by visiting mybustoschool.ca and following the instructions below:

1. Select “Parent Portal”
2. Log in or create an account using your email and a password

School zone information

Zone 1

Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School + Adult and Alternate Education Centre
Bracebridge Public School
Gravenhurst High School + Adult and Alternate Education Centre
Glen Orchard Public School
Gravenhurst Public School
Honey Harbour Public School
K.P. Manson Public School
Macaulay Public School
Monck Public School
Muskoka Beechgrove Public School
Muskoka Falls Public School
Watt Public School

Zone 2

Huntsville High School + Adult and Alternate Education Centre
Huntsville Public School
Irwin Memorial Public School
Pine Glen Public School
Riverside Public School
Spruce Glen Public School
V.K. Greer Memorial Public School

Zone 3

Archie Stouffer Elementary School
Cardiff Elementary School
Haliburton Adult and Alternate Education Centre
Haliburton Highlands Secondary School
J. Douglas Hodgson Elementary School
Stuart Baker Elementary School
Wilberforce Public School

Zone 4

Bobcaygeon Public School
Fenelon Falls Secondary School + Adult and Alternate Education Centre
Fenelon Township Public School
Lady Mackenzie Public School
Langton Public School
Ridgewood Public School
Woodville Elementary School

Zone 5

Alexandra Public School
Central Senior School
Dr. George Hall Public School
Dunsford District Elementary School
Grandview Public School
I.E. Weldon Secondary School
Jack Callaghan Public School
King Albert Public School
Lindsay Adult and Alternate Education Centre
Leslie Frost Public School
Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Mariposa Elementary School
Parkview Public School
Queen Victoria Public School
Rolling Hills Public School
Scott Young Public School

Bus cancellation information can be found in the following locations:

• TLDSB social media – X (@TLDSB), Facebook (@TLDSB), and Instagram (@trillium_lakelands_dsb)
• TLDSB website
• www.mybustoschool.ca
• Local radio stations

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On October 22, hospitality and tourism students from Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School (BMLSS), Gravenhurst High School (GHS), and Huntsville High School competed at the Georgian College High School Hospitality Competition.

This year’s event was the first competition since the COVID-19 pandemic, and hosted Grade 9 to 12 students from schools within the District of Muskoka, Regional Municipality of Durham, and Simcoe County. Students competed in teams of two in the cooking category, or individually in the baking category, using tools and ingredients provided to create specific dishes within a set time frame being judged on overall professionalism/sanitation, technique/skills, presentation, and taste/flavour.

A team of two students, Liam Cooper and Aydan Black from BMLSS competed in the cooking category and placed third!

GHS Grade 12 student, Mia Garcia, competed in the baking category and placed third as well!

Each student who placed received a $500 scholarship to go towards hospitality related programs at the college.

“We are really proud of the work Mia put into the day,” said GHS hospitality and tourism teacher, Sara Underwood. “This initiative is a great way for students to participate in a fun competition while seeing and working in the kitchens at the college.”

Congratulations, students!

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The I.E. Weldon Secondary School (IEWSS) Green Advocates are a social and environmental activism team of approximately 30 students. They support social and environmental awareness projects, fundraising initiatives, and help with local charities/non-governmental organizations.

Since the establishment of the team in 2021, they have organized a variety of environmentally focused fundraisers, awareness events, and activity, including:

• A school Change for Change Fundraiser where they raised over $600 to plant trees on the school’s property through the Canopy Project in Kawartha Lakes.
• The establishment of a school recycling program and an awareness campaign to educate students on the City of Kawartha Lakes recycling system.
• Participation in an annual garbage clean-up around the school property – once in the spring and once in the fall.
• The organization of three successful fundraisers for environmental causes: two bake sales that raised over $400 for the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC), and one bake sale that raised just under $200 for Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).
• The creation of a secondary school Sock Cup Challenge, where three local secondary schools competed against each other to see who could bring in the most donations of new and clean used socks to eliminate the need for new materials. In total, the team helped keep over 6,000 socks from going to the landfill.

In the 2023-24 school year, the Green Advocates made a close connection with the Kawartha chapter of Seniors for Climate Action Now! (SCAN!-Kawartha). The group has since helped the students with ideas to promote a more sustainable world with fewer carbon dioxide emissions, such as a letter writing campaign to local City of Kawartha Lakes councilors regarding the implementation of Healthy Environment Plan that was created in 2018.

On October 1, SCAN!-Kawartha organized the second Climate Change Rally to support seniors who want to ensure a positive future for the next generation. The group invited the Green Advocates to take part. Students created signs and even had the opportunity to provide their point of view through the team’s student leaders, Leah Roxborough and Sage Stapleton. Students all had the pleasure of meeting the Green Party’s provincial leader, Mike Schreiner.

Follow the Green Advocates on Instagram at @weldonsgreenadvocates to see more projects and initiatives they are working on throughout the school year.

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