GUELPH – The Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) trustees selected their chair and vice-chair for the coming year at the board’s inaugural meeting on Nov. 20.
Marino Gazzola has been acclaimed as Wellington Catholic District School Board Chair. He has served for over 30 years as a WCDSB trustee, including positions as chair and vice-chair.
He is currently a regional representative of the Ontario Catholic School Board Trustees Association and served previously as president and vice-president.
He also served as a member of the board of directors and key leadership positions with the Canadian Catholic School Board Trustees Association, including a three-year term as president.
“It is an honour to serve as chair of the Wellington Catholic District School Board and work alongside fellow trustees in supporting senior administration and our school board staff in creating the best possible outcomes for students,” stated Gazzola.
“We are proud of the excellent work being done in our schools every day and want to continue in that tradition.”
In July 2020, Gazzola resigned from his then-position as chair after making social media posts officials described as “racist and discriminatory.”
In a letter of apology posted on the WCDSB website in August 2020, Gazzola characterized his social media posts as “a serious error in judgement, for which I take full responsibility and am profoundly sorry.”
Vice-chair
Vikki Dupuis, who has served for three terms as chair, was acclaimed as vice-chair. She has served the WCDSB for over 25 years, earning the honourable Ontario Catholic Trustees Association Trustee Award of Merit in 2019.
Board officials say she is a champion of equity, inclusion and empowering youth leaders who brings valuable knowledge, experience and leadership to the board.
“I am grateful and honoured to be elected as vice-chair and to be able to continue to work with such a committed board of trustees and staff, to advocate and support a quality faith-based education,” stated Dupuis.
Gazzola and Dupuis will serve a term of one year.
