October is an opportunity for Edmonton Catholic Schools and Canada to recognize the many contributions Canadians of Hispanic origin have made and continue to make in this country. Hispanic Canadian Heritage Month also serves as an opportunity for people of Hispanic origin to come together and celebrate their shared culture.
Statement on Latin American Heritage Month - Government of Canada
In 2018, the Parliament of Canada proclaimed October Latin American Heritage Month in recognition of the Latin American community’s tremendous contribution to Canadian society.
Hailing from all 20 Latin American countries, Canadians of Latin American origin make up a large and growing community in Canada. They enrich our national fabric with their diverse and vibrant cultures, cuisine, music, dance, and more. Also, members of the Latin American community play an important role in Canada’s growth and prosperity, thanks to their entrepreneurial spirit.
We invite all Canadians to learn more about Latin American heritage and to honour the rich cultural and artistic traditions of our fellow Canadians of Latin American origin.
Celebrating Achievements of Hispanic and Latin-American Peoples of Canada
Edmonton Catholic Schools Spanish Bilingual Program
Edmonton Catholic Schools offers the Spanish Bilingual program for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students. The ECSD Spanish Bilingual programs aim for high academic achievement and strong communicative skills in Spanish and English, while enriching students' first language and emphasizing faith, language, and culture. With support from the Ministry of Education of Spain, we offer students the opportunity to obtain the DELE Spanish Proficiency Certificate. Edmonton Catholic Schools is proud to have International Spanish Academy status.
For more information click here.
Connections with our Faith
Pope Francis
The first Pope of the Americas, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, hails from Argentina and was elected the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church in March 2013. Prior to his election as Pope, Bergoglio served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013, as Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church of Argentina from 2001 to 2013, and as President of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina from 2005 to 2011. He was also named Person of the Year by Time magazine in 2013.
Click here to get to know a little bit about our Pope
St. Oscar Romero
Oscar Romero was born on August 15, 1917 and was appointed Archbishop of El Salvador in 1977. He was an orthodox, social conservative who was deeply affected by the murder of his friend and fellow priest Rutilio Grande. Thereafter, he became an outspoken critic of the military government of El Salvador and faithfully adhered to the Catholic teachings on liberation and a preferential option for the poor.
On October 14, 2018 Pope Francis canonized seven people, including the late Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero who was shot by an assassin on March 24, 1980 as he celebrated Mass in a hospital chapel. At the Vatican, tens of thousands of Catholics were on hand to experience the ritual, among them an estimated five thousand who had travelled from El Salvador. Many wept and broke into song and prayer when Romero’s canonization was completed. For the ceremony, the Pope wore the bloodstained cincture that Romero had been wearing when he was killed. For us today, the eloquence of this prophet for God’s justice and peace serves as a source of inspiration for a life of uncompromised integrity.
At Edmonton Catholic Schools, we are proud to have a high school in West Edmonton that bears his name. St. Oscar Romero High School opened in 2004 and serves students in Grades 10-12.
#HOLAECSD Student Activities
We encourage all ECSD schools to actively participate in the festivities and share their Hispanic Canadian Heritage Month activities on social media using the hashtag #HOLAECSD. Let's unite in celebrating this rich and diverse cultural heritage!
Noteworthy Hispanic Canadians
- Edmonton-Ellerslie MLA Rod Loyola
- NHL Hockey players Willi Plett and Raffi Torres
- Wrestler Rosa Mendes
- Pianist and composer Alberto Guerrero
- Master guitarist Oscar Lopez
- Miss Universe Canada 2015 Paola Nunez
- Geneticist Manuel Buchwald
- Filmmaker Federico Hidalgo