A Man of Conviction

Omer Belisle has been shaping the minds and spirits of youngsters for almost 30 years. 

He’s been a committed coach, teacher, vice-principal, and principal with the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board (TBCDSB) and, for the past 12 years, he’s been superintendent of education overseeing the TBCDSB’s Kindergarten - Grade 8 and Student Achievement departments.

“I’m also the math lead, the Indigenous lead, the mental health lead, the French lead, and the equity and inclusion lead,” Omer explains.

It’s a heavy workload, but Omer is unfazed by the many responsibilities he shoulders.

“My parents were instrumental in instilling a strong work ethic in me and my siblings. They encouraged us to always better ourselves. Moreover, I’m fortunate to be part of a talented leadership team—it’s wonderful to go to work with them each day,” he says.

Omer was born in Nipigon, Ontario, and is a member of the Red Rock Indian Band. His family later moved to Thunder Bay where Omer attracted attention as a first-rate minor hockey player. After attending St. Ignatius High School, he played with the Barrie Colts for two years before being recruited to play varsity hockey for Bemidji State University in Minnesota. He’s also played with the Thunder Bay Flyers and the Thunder Bay Senators hockey teams.

“The commitment and discipline of being a student athlete is excellent training for any profession,” Omer says, “and I enjoyed being there for my teammates.”

He completed an education degree at Bemidji, a decision that was influenced by his hockey career.

“I had some coaches who were great mentors to me, and several of them were teachers. Dave Siciliano and Dave Bragnalo in Thunder Bay and Bob Peters at Bemidji State all steered me in the direction of coaching and teaching.” 

In 1995, Omer returned to Ontario to teach with the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board where his first job was a grade 3-4 split class at St. Jude’s School.

“I will never forget the bonds I formed with students and colleagues at St. Jude’s. It was very special.” 

Over the following years, Omer was busy working, raising a family, and coaching his two sons’ hockey teams. But in 2010, he felt that he’d come to a crossroads and needed to push himself in a new direction.

“I remember the day I decided to get my Master of Education at Lakehead. I was working at Corpus Christi school when Superintendent of Business Tom Mustapic asked me if I’d ever thought about administration—it was his pat on the back that motivated me to go back to school.”

Lakehead introduced Omer to professors and fellow students whose shared goals would later help him implement projects at the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board in areas close to his heart, such as Indigenous education. Through Omer’s leadership, the TBCDSB has expanded its Ojibway language programs and the availability of Indigenous counsellors.

“In addition, we’ve expanded mental health access with the help of Katie Matthews, our mental health lead,” Omer adds.

One of his proudest accomplishments is the opening of a satellite kindergarten class on the Fort William First Nation. The kindergarten, an extension of Thunder Bay’s St. Ann Elementary School, is the first of its kind in Canada.

“It gives kids comfort, a sense of belonging, and accessibility. Now, if a family from the community chooses, their four-year-old child doesn’t have a long bus ride to school.”

These kinds of initiatives give Omer a sense of purpose.

“As a superintendent, you’re able to make system changes, and that really drives me.”