MARCH 2, 2017 - BARRIE, ON: At the March 1, 2017 Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees voted to accept the staff recommendation to close Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School in Honey Harbour effective June 30, 2017. Beginning September 2017, the students in the Our Lady of Mercy boundary area will attend St. Antoine Daniel Catholic School in Victoria Harbour. This decision is the result of a Pupil Accommodation Review process, which the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board initiated in October 2016.
"This has been a very difficult process and I would like to thank our staff for their professionalism and attention to detail as we moved through it," said Carol Corriveau-Truchon, Board Chair. "I would also like to thank the community of Honey Harbour for expressing their wishes so eloquently and respectfully. I look forward to working with the community to ensure that the legacy of Our Lady of Mercy continues to be celebrated as part of the rich history of our Board."
"These reviews are difficult for many reasons. We know that many of our decisions affect people’s lives, as does this one," said Brian Beal, Director of Education. "What is even more complicated in an accommodation review is that there is a lot of history involved for the students, families and communities."
"Our staff does not want to undermine the incredible Catholic education, which has been offered at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School since it opened in 1946," said Mr. Beal. "The fact is that, with only 14 students enrolled at the school, and projections not indicating much, if any, growth, we believe our students will have greater academic, spiritual and social opportunities when they become part of the larger school community at St. Antoine Daniel Catholic School."
For information about the process or to view the final staff report, please visit our website at
smcdsb.on.ca