Some trustees with Moose Jaw’s Catholic school division have committed to attending five provincial or national conferences this year, trips that could cost more than $50,000.
Administration with Holy Trinity Catholic School Division presented a spreadsheet during a recent board meeting laying out the five events and how much each would cost to attend, ranging from one to six trustees.
Conferences during the 2023-24 school year include the Saskatchewan Catholic School Board Association’s AGM in Lloydminster from Oct. 20 to 22, the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) AGM in Regina from Nov. 12 to 14, the SSBA spring assembly in Saskatoon from April 11-12, 2024, the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association gathering in Calgary from May 30 to June 1, 2024 and Canadian School Boards Association get-together in Toronto from July 3 to 5, 2024.
Division administration was able to confirm that five trustees plan to travel to Lloydminster, five to Regina, four to Saskatoon, three to Calgary and two to Toronto.
According to the spreadsheet:
- Five trustees travelling to Lloydminster will likely cost $9,956; the most expensive items are mileage ($2,717.50) and indemnities ($3,000)
- Five members travelling to Regina will probably cost $9,058.50; the most expensive items are lodging ($2,058.50) and indemnities ($3,000)
- Four trustees going to Saskatoon should cost $6,022.20; the most expensive items are lodging ($1,560) and indemnities ($1,600)
- Three members going to Calgary will likely cost $14,421; the most expensive areas are lodging ($5,520) and indemnities ($3,000)
- Two trustees travelling to Toronto will probably cost $13,251; the most expensive items are accommodations ($3,720), registration ($3,150) and indemnities ($3,000)
Therefore, the total cost for trustees to attend the five conferences is $52,708.70.
Lloydminster
Archbishop Richard Smith, from the Archdiocese of Edmonton, and Chief Wilton Littlechief, former grand chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations in Edmonton, will be the two guest speakers during the Lloydminster conference.
Smith, originally from Halifax, became bishop of the Diocese of Pembroke in Ontario in 2002, while he was later appointed Metropolitan and archbishop of Edmonton in 2007.
He serves as president of the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories and is past president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Littlechief is a Cree chief, residential school survivor and lawyer who has worked nationally and internationally. He has also been a member of Parliament, vice-president of the Indigenous Parliament of the Americas and other international groups.
The Saskatchewan Catholic School Board Association was the only organization of the five to have detailed information about its event. The others had not yet posted their conference details by press time.
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