📣Building a Future of Faith: Confirm Your School Support Designation Today
For more than 185 years, Catholic education has been an integral part of Ontario’s story. As a vital component of our province’s publicly funded school system, Catholic schools nurture faith, inspire achievement, and educate nearly 600,000 students each year.
The Role of Catholic School Trustees
Catholic school trustees play a multifaceted role as stewards, advocates, politicians, and servant leaders at the local level. They are entrusted with safeguarding the mission of Catholic education, ensuring that our schools uphold the religious ideals of the Catholic faith, and share Gospel values through policies, programs, and decision-making.
➡️Want a deeper understanding of the leadership and responsibilities of Catholic school trustees? Access the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association (OCSTA) brochure, A Call to Service.
Why Your Support Matters
When you declare yourself as a Separate (Catholic) school supporter, you are helping to preserve and strengthen publicly funded Catholic education in Ontario.
Your designation:
- Ensures you can vote for Catholic school trustees in the October 26, 2026 municipal elections;
- Ensures the education portion of your property taxes supports a publicly funded school system that reflects and upholds your faith-based values;
- Sends a clear message to the Ontario government about the ongoing commitment to Catholic education;
- Helps sustain a visible and vibrant Catholic presence in our communities.
➡️Looking for a simple, plain-language overview of what it means to be a Catholic school supporter? Access OCSTA's resource for Catholic ratepayers.
Important Deadline: June 1, 2026
School support information is provided by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) to Elections Ontario in advance of municipal elections.
Property owners and tenants should verify or update their school support by
Monday, June 1, 2026, to ensure the correct information is provided
to Elections Ontario in time for the October 26, 2026 municipal elections.
How to Check or Update Your School Support
1
Check your MPAC Property Assessment Notice
Look for the school support section on your Property Assessment Notice from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) to check your current school support status.
2
Speak with your landlord (if you rent)
Your landlord may need to update the school support designation for the property.
3
Update online through MPAC
4
Update by phone with MPAC
Call MPAC at 1‑866‑296‑6722
to make changes to your school support designation.
5
Update manually using an MPAC application form
Learn More About Catholic Education