The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College is now available online!

To read about Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy in the Guide, click here.

The Academy held its annual OLSWA formal on January 10th in special remembrance of the Feast of Epiphany. The students had freshly returned from Christmas holidays and were enthusiastic to celebrate the beginning of a new semester. Earlier in the day a bustling crew of volunteers transformed the basement of St. Hedwig Church into a hall of glowing candles and glittering lights, sweeping hangings, and exquisitely decorated tables. At evening all of the students, teachers, and staff arrived in their formal dress. After everyone mingled and greeted each other for a while, our school President Dr. Warner gave a short welcome, and people sat down to enjoy a lovely four-course dinner. At the end of the meal, two of the students performed a song for the ladies, while all of the men present left their seats and honoured every single woman in the room by presenting them each with a flower.

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                   The Hall  - Enjoying a Formal Dinner

After the meal, fine coffees and desserts baked by the students were brought out on tables. The lights were dimmed, and a student-led band kicked-off a night of dancing and entertainment.

Thank you to all the men of St. Paul Residence for organizing a wonderful evening of prayer and socializing to honour St. Paul’s Conversion. ¸

Alex McCune on keyboard, John Espadero and Jon Quist on Guitar

On Sunday, January 25th, the men residents of St. Paul’s invited all students and teachers to join them in an evening of praise and celebration. The night began with vespers followed by songs of worship. The boys had decorated their home cafe-style—complete with fine baked desserts, hot chocolate, fancy teas, and delicious coffees. Everyone enjoyed the refreshments and each other’s company for a while, and then to end off the evening, the lights were dimmed and a projector screen set up. The home-made movie, featuring the Epic Men of St. Paul Residence, played scenes from the many adventures and memories of the students’ year thus far at OLSWA.

Thanks for the delicious food, good company, and cheer!

Monday, February 2nd

This day marks the First Year Memorial of the death of
Janine Lieu and Paul Sanders.
Please pray for the repose of their souls and for all those who are still mourning their loss.

4:00-5:00 p.m. Holy hour at St. Hedwig Church
5:00 p.m. Mass and Candlelight Procession to the docks followed by Litany of the Faithful Departed

No classes this day.

Paul Sanders	Janine Lieu

For information about Memorial Scholarships, please click here.

On Thursday, November 27th, approximately three hundred friends, supporters and members of the Academy gathered together in the John Paul Yakabuski Arena to celebrate American Thanksgiving. The tradition of holding an Academy celebration on this date was started by the Ferrant family five years ago.  The festivities honour all of our southern students, staff and friends, but most importantly, the event is a way for the Academy and the local community to come together for a time of thanksgiving and fellowship.  This year Dr. David Warner opened the evening by addressing the crowd, and a letter from the Barry’s Bay Mayor, John Hildebrandt, was read. The mayor regretted being unable to attend and spoke warmly of the relationship between the Academy and the community.

Our beloved American students

Afterwards, the American students sang "America the Beautiful" and a resounding round of the American National Anthem. Finally, everyone settled in to enjoy a delicious home-cooked feast of Turkey and pie. After the dinner, students Jenna Henry and Kathleen Molto led the crowd in traditional, folk ceilidh-dancing which lasted until late in the evening.

The Academy would like to thank all the volunteers who made the event a great success. Great thanks to Kathleen Molto, Jenna Henry and Mike Hayden for helping with the music and dancing, to Maja Polic, Maria Reilander and Maria Henry for coordinating , to the Platt family, to Lois Losole for organizing the food preparation, to Wendy Zakrzewski and Anne Bonnah, and especially to the Ferrant family—the event’s generous founders and benefactors. Thank you also to everyone who threw in a generous hand for dishes and hall clean-up afterwards.

See below for more photos.