A trustee who has represented Pickering on the Durham Catholic District School Board for 35 consecutive years is stepping away, leaving the city's Catholic trustee seat wide open in this month's municipal election.
Jim McCafferty is retiring from the board, ending more than three decades of continuous service to Catholic education in the city, according to Daily Durham.
Because school board trustees appear on the Oct. 26 municipal election ballot, McCafferty's retirement means Pickering voters will choose their next Catholic trustee without the long-time incumbent in the race for the first time in 35 years.
Honoured at Thanksgiving Mass
The board recognized McCafferty during a Thanksgiving Mass held at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Pickering, celebrating his contributions to Catholic education and the broader community.
During the celebration, he received a special blessing along with a letter of congratulations from Bishop Vincent Nguyen. The letter was presented by Fr. Eduardo on behalf of the Archdiocese.
A record of service
Over his tenure, McCafferty championed student success and well-being and worked to strengthen Catholic education across Durham Region, Daily Durham reported.
His service extended beyond Pickering. He sat on the board's Special Education Advisory Committee and served on the Minister of Education's Special Advisory Council.
His honours include the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the OCSTA Award of Merit and the Ron St. Marie Council for Exceptional Children Award.
What it means for Pickering voters
With McCafferty not seeking re-election, the Pickering Catholic trustee race will feature a new field of candidates vying for a seat that has been held by one trustee since the late 1980s.
The winner will take office as the board's new representative for the city, joining trustees from across Durham Region after the Oct. 26 vote.
