The Renfrew County Catholic District School Board is delighted to announce that trustee Bob Schreader is the recipient of the 2020 Ontario Catholic School Trustee Association Award of Merit. This award is presented annually at the OCSTA AGM and recognizes trustees who have provided exceptional service to Catholic education over the years. This year’s AGM was originally scheduled for April 30-May 2.
Schreader’s nomination for the award was submitted by current Chair Dave Howard on behalf of the Board.
“It is with unequivocal enthusiasm and respect that the RCCDSB submits the name of Bob Schreader for the 2020 OCSTA Trustee Award of Merit. Bob has been a passionate advocate for Catholic education, both in Renfrew County and beyond for three decades,” stated the nomination letter.
Schreader has spent 8 years as Chair and 6 years as Vice-Chair over his 30 years of service to the Board. He has been Chair of the Educational Services Committee, the Business and Corporate Services Committee and the Audit Committee and sits on the Board of Directors for the Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium.
The nomination letter went on to say that “In addition to his involvement in every aspect of the work of Board Governance, including serving as Chair, Vice-Chair, and various Committee Chairs, Bob is an authentic servant-leader in the wider community.”
In our local community, Schreader is a commentator and Special Minister at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Pembroke, a member of Bishop Smith Assembly 869 of the 4th Degree Knights and past Grand Knight on two occasions for the Knights of Columbus, Bishop N.Z. Lorrain Council 1531. He is a past member of the Pembroke Police Services Board and past Chair of the Citizens’ Committee of Pembroke. He currently serves as recording secretary for the Pembroke Columbus Club Inc.
Further abroad, he served one term as OCSTA Vice-President, two terms as an OCSTA director, chaired the OCSTA’s Catholic Education Committee, the Conference Committee and the Political Affairs Committee.
In 1997, as RCCDSB Chair, he successfully led a campaign that altered the province’s plan to merge school boards.
In December of 2019, Schreader began his 31st year as a Trustee for the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board. His dedication to the role of Trustee has not wavered since he initially took on the role in 1989, or his goal to meet the needs of students and ensure the highest quality of Catholic education for each individual.
“It has been a great pleasure working with Bob on the Board of Trustees. I have observed firsthand his commitment to Catholic education and his unwavering witness to the Gospel. He is a very deserving recipient of the award,” said Howard.