Prince Albert Catholic Division Launches New National School Food Plan

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division has initiated engagement on a new three-year National School Food Program (NSFP) aimed at addressing food insecurity among students. During a recent board meeting, the education board voted to commence discussions surrounding the implementation of this program, which aims to enhance food options and services in schools.

Education Director Lorel Trumier highlighted the ongoing challenge of food security, stating, “Food security is always something that’s top of mind in our world around us. We do know more children have a shortage of food, or lack of food.” This concern comes as the division receives additional funding through the Child Nutrition Development Program from the Ministry of Education.

On August 25, 2024, the division was informed that the NSFP has allocated $98,385 to support its initiatives. Trumier explained the significance of the funding: “There was a federal provincial agreement that’s been struck, and what it meant is additional dollars to support and enhance food options and programming in our school division.” While the details are still being finalized, the additional funds promise to alleviate some financial pressures, allowing resources to be diverted from operational budgets to teaching and learning.

The funding distribution is based on projected enrolments for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. This allocation is an estimate and may adjust once enrolment figures are confirmed on September 30, 2025. A formal funding agreement will be issued in September, outlining specific criteria for the use of the funds.

In addition to the NSFP allocation, the division will benefit from a $95,000 Child Nutrition Grant and a $40,000 partnership with the Catholic Education Fund. This is part of a broader strategy to expand school food infrastructure, which includes $40,731 in grant funding from a joint submission announced last year.

Trumier also provided an update on the Child Nutrition Grant, noting an increase of $2,000 over previous funding levels, reflecting the rising costs of food. For the 2025-2026 year, the division expects to receive $94,971 from the existing provincial Child Nutrition Fund, an increase of $2,766 from the last school year.

The Prince Albert Catholic School Division is committed to addressing food insecurity, striving to provide adequate support for students in need. As discussions progress regarding the NSFP, the board remains focused on maximizing the impact of the available funding to benefit as many children as possible.