A new French-language Catholic elementary school is opening in Mississauga this fall, giving nearly 300 local students a new place to learn and carrying the name of one of the most significant Indigenous figures in Catholic history.

École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Kateri-Tekakwitha will welcome its first students on Sept. 8 at 5450 Festival Drive in Churchill Meadows.

The new school will have space for 294 elementary students, along with 73 licensed child-care spaces for children from three months to four years old.

The $21.9-million project was funded by the Ontario government and is one of 35 new or expanded schools opening across the province for the 2026-27 school year.

The school will be the fourth Catholic French-language elementary school operated by Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir in Mississauga. The board says the new facility is being built to meet the growing Francophone population in the city and give families access to French-language Catholic education closer to home.

But the school’s name also carries particular significance.

Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 and died in 1680. A Mohawk woman who converted to Catholicism, she was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, becoming the first Indigenous woman in North America to be declared a saint by the Catholic Church.

Her canonization made her an important figure in both Indigenous and Catholic history.

MonAvenir officials say choosing her name is intended to encourage students to learn about Indigenous history and perspectives while reflecting the Catholic values of the school.

“The choice of the name Sainte-Kateri-Tekakwitha is also very meaningful to our School Board,” said Nicole Mollot, the board’s director of education. “Her story and legacy invite us to continue our commitment to reconciliation, respect and dialogue.”

The board says the name also reflects its goal of strengthening the connection between Francophone families in Mississauga and the community around the new school.

The school will offer classes from kindergarten through Grade 6. Students can continue their French-language Catholic education at École secondaire catholique Sainte-Famille once they reach secondary school.

Geneviève Grenier, chair of the MonAvenir board, said the opening represents an important milestone for the Francophone community.

“The growth of the Francophone population in Mississauga demonstrates the importance of continuing to expand our school network so that families can access quality French-language Catholic education close to home,” Grenier said.

Ontario has provided $30.6 billion in education funding for the 2026-27 school year, while the province says it is investing $1.3 billion annually in new schools, expansions and renovations.

For Mississauga families, the immediate result is a new school in Churchill Meadows that will welcome its first students next month.

And its name is intended to ensure those students learn about an Indigenous woman whose story has become an important part of both Canadian and Catholic history.


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