The Franco-Nord Catholic School Board (CSCFN) says its Director of Education, Serge Levac will retire on September 26 after a 30-year career in French-language Catholic education.
Having studied music at the Toronto Conservatory, followed by a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education at Laurentian University, Levac began his teaching career at École secondaire Sainte-Famille in Mississauga in 1995.
A native of the West Nipissing region, he returned to northern Ontario to take on teaching positions at Algonquin Catholic high schools in North Bay and Franco-Cité in Sturgeon Falls. He then took on a teaching and principal position at École élémentaire catholique Christ-Roi in River Valley and continued to serve as principal at Sainte-Marguerite-d'Youville Catholic elementary schools in Verner and Saint-Joseph Catholic elementary schools in Sturgeon Falls.
He subsequently held the position of Director responsible for improving student achievement at the Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord and became Superintendent of Education in 2013. Levac has been the Director of Education since October 1, 2021.
"During his long and successful career at the CSCFN, Mr. Levac was responsible for many systemic files, demonstrating, among other things, a passion for early childhood, Indigenous education, the French Language Update Program, religious education and special education," says a news release.
He supervised various schools and the school board, ensuring their proper functioning and the provision of quality French-language Catholic education. He also sat on various regional and provincial education committees in French-language education over the years. He assumed the role of chair of the Conseil ontarien des directions de l'éducation de langue française in 2023-2024. Involved in his community, Mr. Levac participated in many extracurricular music projects, was a choir director, and has been a member of the musical group Les gens du Nord for many years.
"His passion for education, his forward-thinking leadership, his desire to innovate and his commitment to the French-speaking Catholic community have been major assets within the CSCFN."
“His approach to governance, his transparency, and his collaboration have certainly benefited and enriched our school community. His passion for French-language Catholic education has always been very evident. We will miss him!” says Ronald Demers, president of the CSCFN.
The Franco-Nord Catholic School Board will begin a hiring process in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition by September 26, 2025.