Ottawa Catholic School Board to start 2026-27 school year before Labour Day

School desk and chairs in empty modern classroom. Empty class room with white board and projector in elementary school. Primary classroom with smartboard and alphabet on wall.

Students in the Ottawa Catholic School Board could be starting the next school year before Labour Day due to the late date for the final long weekend of summer.

Trustees with the Ottawa Catholic School Board will vote Tuesday night on the proposed school year calendar for the 2026-27 school year.

According to the proposed calendar, the first day of classes for the Catholic school board would be Tuesday, Sept 1.

Staff note Labour Day is on Monday, Sept. 7 this year.

“If the school year were to begin after the September long weekend, there would not be enough days remaining before June 30, 2027, to meet the Ministry’s required 194 days,” staff said in the report for trustees.

“When this happens, boards must look at starting the school year before Labour Day.”

Staff say the school year has started before Labour Day for the 2009-10, 2015-16 and 2020-21 school years.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board calendar shows the Christmas Break would run from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1, with classes resuming on Jan. 4.

March Break for the 2026-27 school year would be March 15 to 19, and the final day of school would be June 24, 2027.

The report for the Ottawa Catholic School Board says the development of the 2026-27 school year calendar was done in consultation with officials from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, and Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario.

CTV News Ottawa has reached out the OCDSB to see if they have any information on the proposed calendar for the 2026-27 school year at the public school board.