A Legacy of Faith and Learning Since 1887
During the upcoming school year, Prince Albert Catholic Schools proudly celebrates 140 years of Catholic education, marking a milestone in the history of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and Catholic education in Western Canada. For fourteen decades, the division has nurtured the faith, and values of generations of students while remaining dedicated in its mission to provide quality Catholic education and excellence rooted in Gospel values.
To open the school year, staff participated in a mass with celebrant Bishop Ken Thorson at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The Board of Education hosted a staff appreciation lunch and Hon. Everett Hindly, Minister of Education and MLA Kevin Kasun, welcomed staff to a new school year.
In March 2027, we celebrate this historic anniversary, we honour our past, give thanks for the present, and look forward with hope to the future. The story of Prince Albert Catholic Schools began in 1887, when the division was proclaimed by Queen Victoria as the Prince Albert Roman Catholic Separate School Division. This date is particularly significant because it predates Saskatchewan’s entry into Confederation by eighteen years. In fact, the school division was established when this region was still part of the Northwest Territories, making Prince Albert Catholic Schools one of the oldest school divisions in Saskatchewan. The division’s history reaches back to a time before automobiles, electricity, radio, modern technology, and many of the landmarks that define our community today.
The division’s beginnings were humble. The first Catholic school operated from a one-room log schoolhouse located near the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, serving approximately 30 students. Those early families recognized the importance of faith-based education and were committed to ensure their children could learn and grow within a Catholic learning environment.
The growth of Prince Albert Catholic Schools mirrors the growth and development of Prince Albert itself. As a small community evolved into a thriving regional centre serving northern Saskatchewan. As the community grew, Catholic schools expanded alongside it, educating future leaders, healthcare professionals, tradespeople, educators, clergy, entrepreneurs, public servants, and community builders. It is important to recognize the how it adapted and grew to respond to change. The division has continued its mission through times of prosperity and challenge, serving students during two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Spanish Flu pandemic, the rapid growth of the twentieth century, and most recently, the pandemic. Each generation of educators and families faced unique challenges, yet the division’s commitment to faith, learning, and service remained constant. This resilience is a testament to the strength of the Catholic education and support of the community.
The history of school division cannot be fully told without recognizing the deep connections between Catholic education and the community’s diverse cultural heritage. Prince Albert Catholic Schools operates on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. As we celebrate 140 years of Catholic education, we acknowledge and honour the First Nations and Métis peoples who have lived, learned, and cared for these lands since time immemorial. The division remains committed to walking together in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, fostering respect, and creating opportunities for all learners.
Over the past hundred and forty years, countless individuals have shaped the success of Prince Albert Catholic Schools. Bishops, religious communities, clergy, trustees, administrators, teachers, educational assistants, support staff, maintenance personnel, parents, volunteers, and community partners have all played essential roles in building our Catholic educational community. Their dedication and service have helped create schools where students feel welcomed, valued, and inspired to learn more about God.
The division’s history is also a story of generations. Many families in Prince Albert and surrounding communities have sent children to Catholic schools for decades. Some of today’s students are the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren of former students. These family connections remind us that Catholic education is not simply about buildings or programs; it is about relationships.
While much has changed since 1887, the mission remains the same. From a single log schoolhouse serving a handful of students, Prince Albert Catholic Schools has grown into a modern educational system serving more than 3,200 students across seven schools. The division now offers English and French Immersion programming from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12, innovative learning opportunities, and online learning options designed to meet the evolving needs of students and families.
As we celebrate this anniversary, we remember that every chapter of our history has been written by people of faith who believed in the transformative power of Catholic education. The celebration of 140 years is an invitation to imagine the future. As Prince Albert Catholic Schools enters its next chapter, we remain committed to academic excellence, faith formation, student well-being, innovation, Truth and Reconciliation, and building communities where every child knows they are loved, valued, and created in the image of God.
As we look ahead, we do so with gratitude, pride, and hope that the legacy that began with Jesus as model in a one-room schoolhouse along the North Saskatchewan River will continue to bless future generations for years to come.
