Northland School Division shared how listening to students, families, staff and communities is shaping its work on Truth and Reconciliation and student success.
The division presented at the Canadian School Boards Association's (CSBA) 2026 Trustee Gathering on Education, Innovation and Reconciliation. The July gathering took place in Whistler, British Columbia.
Cal Johnson, Superintendent of Schools and CEO presenting at the School Boards Association's (CSBA) 2026 Trustee Gathering on Education, Innovation and Reconciliation
Superintendent of Schools and CEO Cal Johnson, Deputy Superintendent Scott Meunier and Associate Superintendent Mark Owens delivered Northland's presentation, Responding to the Calls to Action: Northland School Division's Governance-Driven Approach to Indigenous Student Success.
The presentation showed how community feedback helped shape Northland's Education Plan. Shared priorities included language, culture, land-based learning and a stronger understanding of the past. More than 90 per cent of Northland students are First Nations and Métis.
Northland also shared how it moved from listening to action. Examples included the Superintendent's Elder and Knowledge Keeper Advisory Council, the Superintendent's Youth Council, cultural and land-based learning and stronger community partnerships.
The presentation emphasized that responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action is a shared responsibility. Attendees were asked to consider their own progress. They also discussed how to measure changes in student experiences, staff practices, community trust and learning outcomes.
Northland connected this work to more hands-on and career-based learning opportunities for students. The division also highlighted improvements in high school completion, with its three-year result increasing from 12.6 per cent in 2021 to 47.1 per cent in 2025.
