About Our School

Our school was named in honour of Marie Marguerite d'Youville, who in 1737 founded the order of the Grey Sisters. The religious order was highly regarded by educationalists for its work in teaching the youth of the country and was invited to Whitby in 1959

Marguerite was born on October 15, 1701, in Varennes, Quebec. Following the death of her husband, she was left with two small sons to raise and her husband's debts. She opened a small store to repay her debts, educate her sons, and provide for the needs of Montreal's poor.

When she was 26, she came to the deep realization that in the great human family, we are all sisters and brothers loved by a providential and compassionate God.

She gave residence to a blind woman and also begged for assistance to bury criminals who had been hanged in the marketplace. These acts of selflessness inspired three women to join her. On December 31, 1737, they consecrated themselves to the service of the poor, in whom they saw the person of Jesus.

In 1753, Marguerite was appointed Director of the General Hospital. Soon the hospital was filled with the elderly, orphans, prostitutes, the mentally ill, physically handicapped, chronically ill and abandoned infants. Marguerite lived there from 1747 to her death in 1771. She fought for the rights of the poor and her primary concern was to spread the Good News of God's compassionate love for every human being.

Pope John XXIII beatified Marguerite on May 3, 1959, proclaiming her "Mother of Universal Charity." She was the first Canadian woman to be called "Blessed." On December 9, 1990, Pope John Paul II canonized this "Mother of the Poor" and presented her to the entire world as a model of compassionate love. Marie Marguerite d'Youville was the first Canadian-born person to be made a saint. Her feast day is October 16.

As Catholic educators, we live according to our Father's code and to lead our students, by example, to live the basic truths of the gospel message. This is an awesome, yet inspiring challenge which we share with the parents of our young men and women.

Children learn what they live. Each day we have the opportunity to teach our students:

• to love by the way we love;
• to be generous by our generosity;
• to be passionate by our compassion; and
• to be forgiving by the way we forgive.

However, a person cannot give what he or she does not have. Unless we are living the Gospel message, we cannot lead our students to do so.

There are many hallmarks of a Catholic educator, including:

• Prayer - The challenges of our vocation, and indeed life in general, are great. To meet them we need to follow Christ's advice that we "ask the father in My name". Each Catholic educator has a duty to expose students to his or her particular style of prayer in order to assist students to recognize the value of prayer in daily life.
• Eucharist - Parish, school, and staff liturgies provide opportunities to celebrate our faith. Our example can testify to the Eucharist as a joyful source of strength and community building.
• Social Justice - This is the heart of the Christian message, that we "love one another as I have loved you". As our brother's and sister's keepers, we must be concerned about the aged, the poor, the oppressed, and any other marginalized group - both at home and abroad.

St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School opened in 1990 and was named in honour of St. Marguerite d’Youville, founder of the Grey Sisters and the first Canadian-born saint. The school's name recognizes both her remarkable legacy of compassion and service, as well as the long-standing contributions of the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception to Catholic education in the Whitby community. Officially blessed in 1991, St. Marguerite d’Youville has been a place where faith, learning, and care for others are at the heart of school life. Inspired by St. Marguerite’s dedication to serving the poor, the sick, and the marginalized, the school encourages students to recognize the dignity of every person and to live out Gospel values through acts of kindness and service. In 2021, a newly rebuilt school opened on the Michael Boulevard site, providing modern learning spaces, a childcare centre, and family support services to meet the needs of a growing community. Today, St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School continues to honour its patron saint’s legacy by fostering a welcoming, compassionate, and faith-filled environment for all.

St. Marguerite d”Youville’s Feast Day is October 16.

I beg of you
Wherever I may be
Whatever I may do
Take me by the hand
And lead me to Jesus

Together let us walk the Way
The one where Jesus is recognized in
The poor, the abandoned
The sick, the forgotten.
Walk with me in the light of the Truth
That is Jesus,
So that one day with you
I may enjoy Life everlasting.

Amen.

Our board's School Year calendar is now available. We encourage parents and guardians to visit our school calendar webpage to learn more about activities happening at school. 

We welcome your questions, comments and concerns.

250 Michael Blvd.

Whitby, ON L1N 6B1
Phone (905) 666-9301
Fax (905) 666-9565