Catholic schools in Calgary have agreed to stop fundraising through casinos
and bingos, but it’s “business as usual” until they figure out how to make
up the $2-million shortfall, says the chairwoman of the school district’s
trustees. The issue arose when Calgary Bishop Fred Henry threatened to strip
the schools of their Catholic designation if they continued to raise money
through gambling. “We have to respect what our bishop has requested us to
do,” Cathie Williams said yesterday, adding some parents are concerned about
the decision. “Some of the programs that are in place right now have been
around for many, many years and the concern is that without this additional
funding, those programs will be lost.”