Canadian Catholic School Trustees commission Italian artwork for new secondary school

By Chris Whelan

Earlier this year, four Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board trustees embarked on a trip to Italy that led to a controversial expenditure of $145,000 on the trip and the purchase of religious artwork The purpose of this purchase was to adorn St. Padre Pio Catholic Secondary School in Brantford, Ontario, a high school currently under construction, with elements that reflect its Catholic identity.

The acquisition of Italian Catholic artwork, which included life-sized statues of St. Padre Pio and the Virgin Mary, a large crucifix, and sculptures depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross, was intended to make St Padre Pio a "flagship" Catholic school. The artwork is slated to be placed in the school's chapel, scheduled to open its doors in 2026. During their trip to South Tyrol in northern Italy, renowned for its religious artistry since the 1500s, the trustees Rick Petrella, Dan Dignard, Bill Chopp, and Mark Watson met with artisans to see the hand-crafted pieces in person before approving the expenditure. Despite the $45,000 cost of the trip, the trustees believed that sourcing directly from artisans would provide unique and meaningful artwork for the school.

However, the decision to spend such

The acquisition of Italian Catholic artwork, which included life-sized statues of St. Padre Pio and the Virgin Mary, a large crucifix, and sculptures depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross, was intended to make St. Padre Pio a "flagship" Catholic school. Four Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board trustees embarked on a trip to Italy that led to a controversial expenditure of $145,000 on the trip a considerable sum on artwork drew sharp criticism from various quarters, including Ontario's Education Minister Jill Dunlop, who called for a governance review of the school board following this incident.

In response to the public outcry, the trustees, including board chair Rick Petrella, expressed regret over the trip and its associated expenses. They have pledged to repay the travel costs and are exploring avenues to offset the expenditure on the Italian artwork, acknowledging that the optics of the trip were not favorable. The controversy deepened when it was revealed that the board had recently revised its expenses policy, allowing for upgraded-class flights, lavish accommodations, and other luxury expenses, raising concerns about oversight and accountability in financial matters

Continued on page 15