Congratulations to Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School's Archives Committee, recipient of this year's TCDSB Team Achievement Award.
Founded in 2021, the Archives Committee was created by students at an important moment in our school’s history. With roots dating back to 1847, Loretto Abbey is now preparing for a new addition to its building. While we look toward the future with anticipation, the students wanted to ensure that our community would not forget its past. Recognizing this unique moment in the school’s history, the students have worked to preserve Loretto Abbey’s rich legacy of Catholic education and its deep connection to the Loretto Sisters, who lived at the school until recently, so that it may continue to be shared with future Abbey students, staff, and the parent community.
Thanks to the leadership of these students, the Archives Committee formed partnerships with the Loretto Sisters and the archivists of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM). After years of research and collaboration with these partners, members of the Loretto Abbey Archives Committee planned and led Back To Ward: A Loretto Abbey Escape Room during this school year.
The Escape Room serves as an orientation activity for all Grade 9 students, allowing them to learn about the school’s rich history and community in a creative and engaging way. Creating the Escape Room required countless hours of historical research and planning. Students participated in Escape Rooms outside of school to study how to design their own experience. They also organized and participated in workshops with Archives Ontario to learn how to gamify history.
In addition, the Archives Committee formed a partnership with the Grade 11 Catholic Servant Leadership classes, whose students were trained to facilitate the Escape Room. The initiative officially launched on February 26, 2026. Beginning this September, the event will become an annual orientation activity for all incoming Grade 9 students.
Mary Ward, founder of the Loretto Sisters, urged us to “not bury [our] talents lent to [us] by God to be expended in service.” Through their hard work, the students of the Loretto Abbey Archives Committee have devoted countless hours to ensuring that neither their talents nor the history of our school remain hidden. Their initiative, leadership, and commitment to preserving the school’s history not only honour its place in Catholic education in Ontario, but also ensure that future generations of Abbey students and visitors can continue to engage with and learn from this rich legacy.
