Acclaimed Chair and Elected Vice-Chair 2023

Fitzsimmons Acclaimed as Chair, Bégin Elected as Vice-Chair

Posted on 11/29/2023

At its organizational meeting held on Tuesday November 28, the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board appointed by acclamation Shawn Fitzsimmons as Chair and elected Jacques Bégin as Vice-Chair.

Shawn Fitzsimmons holds extensive experience as a Catholic Trustee since his appointment in 2006 and previously served as Vice-Chair for the 2011-2012 school year and as Chair for the 2022-2023 school year. Fitzsimmons has been Chair of the Audit Committee since its establishment in 2011 and has also served as Trustee member of the Special Education Advisory Committee. Prior to 2006, he served on the Catholic School Advisory Councils of Mother St. Bride Elementary School and St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Secondary School.

“I am honored to continue in the role of Chair for the upcoming year and look forward to working with the Board of Trustees and the Senior Administration team to promote and nurture the great gift of Catholic Education, so that our students may experience a high-degree of success.” shares Chair Fitzsimmons. “Our Board of Trustees looks forward to supporting the achievement of our strategic commitments (ENDs) focused on Catholic Faith, student achievement, well-being, equity, Indigenous education and innovation through continued leadership in and exercise of exemplary governance.”

Jacques Bégin brings a wealth of experience to the role of Vice-Chair, serving as a Catholic Trustee with the Board for 26 years, since 1997, and has held roles of both Chair of the Board in 2008-2009 and Vice-Chair of the Board in 2017-2018. Over the years, Bégin has served as a Trustee member on the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) and the First Nations Advisory Committee (FNAC).

“I am deeply humbled to serve in the role of Vice-Chair as we journey into the second year of our term. I look forward to continuing our collaborative work as a Board of Trustees and Senior Administration team to foster the success of our students in a manner that is truly Rooted in Faith and Alive in Spirit,” shares Vice-Chair Bégin.

During the organizational meeting, both Fitzsimmons and Bégin extended warm gratitude to Trustee Barbara McCool for her dedicated service in the role of Vice-Chair during the past year and for her leadership in developing the Board of Trustees Faith and Spiritual Development retreat.

Trustees Leo de Jourdan (North Bay), Barbara McCool (North Bay), Mike Sawyer (Nipissing First Nation), Shelly Warren (North Bay), and John Willemsen (West Nipissing) also serve on the Board, as well as Cheyney Chevrier (Indigenous Student Trustee, 2023-2025) and Lauren Hards (Student Trustee, 2023-2024).