‘Tech for good’, or ‘tech with purpose’. Both liberally used phrases across numerous industries and sectors today. But few purposes are greater than providing the tools, technology, and innovations essential for guiding children on their educational journey. Meanwhile, also supporting the many people who play a crucial role in helping learners along the way. Chris Demers and his IT Services Department team have the privilege of delivering on this kind of purpose day in, day out. A mission they neatly summarise as ‘empower, innovate, and foster success’.
Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) serves the region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and is the eighth largest Catholic school system in Ontario. WCDSB operates in Waterloo’s three municipalities and four townships. It offers world-class educational services for elementary, secondary, and adult learners in a quality, faith-based environment. It runs 43 elementary schools, five secondary schools, and five adult education facilities for around 40,000 students from more than 114 countries worldwide.

A Technology Strategy for Education
Demers’ role at WCDSB is broad, encompassing several key responsibilities. These include providing leadership to the board’s Innovation Teaching and Learning Blueprint and strategy. Also, overseeing the growth of key administrative and academic applications, internal and external web infrastructure and social media utilisation, cybersecurity strategy, programmes and training. His team deliver on the Board’s high-level and multi-year strategic priorities, developing and updating a dedicated five-year IT Strategic Plan. That plan has seen the alignment of administrative IT and educational-focused IT departments.
“The Strategic Plan projects out five years across four areas,” Demers explains. “It addresses endpoint devices, connectivity and security as dictated by business and academic needs. We focus on infrastructure, bandwidth, backbone networks, wifi, security, network segmentation, firewall infrastructure, and cloud services. Process improvement includes areas like records retention, automated workflows, student data systems, parent portals, and administrative systems. We’re fully focused on staff development and support.”
People Power
Technology aside, Demers is a proponent of the power of a strong culture and team. Specifically for cybersecurity, he has focused efforts on training all staff and students on digital literacy and cyber awareness. This include regular engagement around online cybersecurity resources, and specific programmes each October as part of cyber awareness month.
More broadly, Demers works to ensure the entire IT department is engaged, enjoying its work, and aligned to the objectives they’re out to achieve. “With leadership from volunteer staff in the IT department we formed the IT Cultural Rejuvenation Initiative,” adds Demers. “Two members of the department took the lead and we set out four pillars for improvement; communications, time management, staff development, and team building. It was an entirely staff-led programme and over 100 deliverables were identified, documented, and approved once completed. Our updates on the guarding minds survey, conducted every six months, show continuous improvement on stress vs satisfaction since we began the process.”
“Collaboration and working together with other schools and districts has been a key part of my journey. We learn the most by looking outwards, sharing information, knowledge, and best practice, and working with as many people as we can”
Chris Demers, CIO, Waterloo Catholic District School Board