Father Bressani Catholic High School
Father Bressani Catholic High School is located on Ansley Grove in Vaughan, Ontario’s Woodbridge community. Feeder schools include St. John Bosco, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Gabriel and St. Gregory The Great Catholic Academy. The school was founded in 1982 to serve the eastern portion of Woodbridge. Notable alumni include Mark Cundari, professional hockey player, and television personalities Dina Pugliese and David Rocca. Robert Barbieri, rugby player for Benneton Treviso and Italy is also an alumus. School colours are black, white and royal blue and the mascot is an Eagle. The school motto is Omnia in Christo, meaning All things in Christ.
St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School
St. Jean de Brebeuf is located in the Vellore neighbourhood of Woodbridge in Vaughan, Ontario. The campus is part of a joint complex with the Vellore Village Community Centre on Weston Road. The community centre provides the gymnasium space, tennis courts, soccer fields and baseball diamond. Initially, the school had a closed-campus policy when it opened in 2005, which lasted until September 2011, when rather than focusing on the close-campus policy, the school administration was pressured by the York Catholic District School Board to more strictly enforce the uniform policies and rules. As a result, the close-campus policy was revoked. During the years of the closed-campus policy, many students despised the confinement, partly because the school cafeteria food was awful and expensive. As a result, students would attempt to escape to area retail plazas to each lunch at local eateries such as Emily’s Bakery. The school mascot is Buddy the Black Bear, and school colours are black and yellow. The motto is Eruditio mentis animae nutriment meaning Educating the mind, nurturing the soul. Feeder schools include St. Mary of the Angels, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Clare, St. John Bosco, St. Veronica, St. Agnes of Assisi and St. Emily Catholic Schools.
Holy Cross Catholic Academy
Holy Cross Catholic Academy is located on Martin Grove Road. It was established in 1986 as Holy Cross Catholic High School to serve the western portion of the Woodbridge community in Vaughan, Ontario. In 1998 it was converted to a Catholic Academy to better educate students in technical development.
Feeder schools distinctly designated only to attend Holy Cross include St. Peter, St. Margaret Mary, St. Clement, St. Catherin of Siena, St. Angela Merici, San Marco and Pope Francis Catholic elementary schools.
Feeder schools such as St. Andrew, St. Padro Pio, St. Stephen have the option of attending Holy Cross, Father bressani or St. Jean de Brebeuf. Students attending Our Lady of Fatima and living north of Rutherford Road also have this option, while students of Our Lady of Fatima who reside south of Rutherford Road have the option to attend Holy Cross or Father Bressani but no St. Jean de Brebeuf.
Notable alumni include Marco Reda, professional soccer player with Toronto Football Club, as well as professional hockey players Frank Corrado and Steve Eminger of the NHL. The school colours are burgundy, navy and white. The mascot is a hawk, and the motto is Sharing the Future.
École Secondaire Catholique de l’Ascension
École Secondaire Catholique de l’Ascension stands as a distinguished French-language Catholic secondary school in the heart of Woodbridge, Ontario. Established in 2008 in response to the growing demand for French Catholic education in the York Region, this institution serves as an educational beacon for francophone families and those committed to French-language immersion throughout Vaughan and surrounding communities.
The school operates under the direction of the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, formerly known as the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud, which oversees French Catholic education across the Greater Toronto Area. This affiliation ensures that l’Ascension maintains rigorous academic standards while integrating Catholic values throughout its curriculum and school culture.
Architecturally, the school features modern facilities designed to support comprehensive learning experiences. The campus includes specialized science laboratories, technological education workshops, multimedia production studios, and athletic facilities that accommodate diverse student interests and learning styles. The building design incorporates environmental sustainability features, creating a learning environment that reflects contemporary educational needs while demonstrating ecological responsibility.
L’Ascension distinguishes itself through a dual commitment to academic excellence and spiritual formation. The curriculum adheres to Ontario Ministry of Education guidelines while being delivered entirely in French, creating graduates who are fully bilingual and prepared for post-secondary success in either official language. Beyond core academics, the school offers specialized programs in arts, sciences, and technology, with particular emphasis on digital literacy and communication skills essential for success in an increasingly connected global society.
The school community emphasizes cultural celebration, with regular events showcasing francophone heritage from across Canada and around the world. These cultural initiatives, combined with service-learning opportunities and spiritual retreats, foster a sense of global citizenship grounded in Catholic social teaching. Students graduate from l’Ascension not only academically prepared but formed as thoughtful, engaged citizens ready to make positive contributions to society while maintaining their linguistic and cultural identity.
