Parents and guardians play an important role in supporting Catholic education in Ottawa. One easy but important way to help is by making sure your school support is set to “English Separate.”
This year, it is especially important to check your school support before June 1, 2026. This will help make sure your information is included correctly on the Preliminary List of Electors before the municipal and school board elections on October 26, 2026.
By choosing English Separate (Catholic) school support, you help support Catholic education and make sure you can vote for an Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) Trustee in the next election.
Why Choosing “English Separate” Is Important
When you choose English Separate school support, you help:
- Support Catholic education in Ontario.
- Help Catholic schools plan for future students and programs.
- Strengthen the voice of Catholic education in the community.
- Keep your right to vote for an OCSB Trustee in the October 26, 2026, election .
OCSB Trustees help make important decisions about school programs and policies. They also speak for families and communities during board meetings and discussions.
By making sure your school support is set correctly, you can help support Catholic education and have a say in the future of local schools.
Who Can Choose English Separate Support?
You can choose English Separate school support if:
- You are Roman Catholic, and
- You own or rent property in Ontario.
Even if only one parent or guardian in your home is Catholic, your family may still be able to support Catholic education.
You do not need to have children attending an OCSB school to choose English Separate support.
Important Reminder for Families Who Have Moved
If you have moved sometime in the last four years, it is important to check your school support designation.
Your school support choice does not update automatically when you change addresses. Even if you supported Catholic education before, your designation may now be listed differently.
Checking your information before June 1, 2026, will help make sure you are correctly included on the voter list before the October 2026 elections.
How to Check Your School Support Designation
There are two easy ways to verify your current designation.
Option 1: Check Your Property Tax Bill or Assessment Notice
Look for the section called School Support or Tax Class.
If you see ✅ English Separate or ✅ ES, then you are listed as an English Catholic school supporter.
Option 2: Check Online Through MPAC
You can also check your school support online through the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).
If you are a property owner, go to MPAC AboutMyProperty and create an account or log in to your existing account. (To create an account, you will need the Roll Number and Access Key located on your Property Assessment Notice.)
If you are a tenant, go to the MPAC School Support Tenant Attestation and search for your property by address or Roll Number.
How to Change Your School Support to English Separate
- Go to the MPAC School Support page.
- Choose between the options for property owner or tenant. Property owners will need to create an account or log in to their existing account. (To create an account, you will need the Roll Number and Access Key located on your Property Assessment Notice.)
- Use this guide to help guide you through the steps to change your support.
- When asked to choose your school support, select: ✅ English Separate (Catholic).
Need Help?
If you need help updating your school support, you can:
- Contact MPAC’s Customer Contact Centre, or
- Print the following hard copy form: Application for Direction of School Support. Mail your completed form to:
1340 Pickering Parkway, Suite 101
Pickering, ON L1V 0C4.
Your Support Makes a Difference
Catholic education is stronger when families work together to support it.
By taking a few minutes to check your school support designation, you help support Catholic schools and make sure your voice is heard during local elections.
Thank you for supporting Catholic education and helping build strong school communities across Ottawa.
