Alumni President Chris Boyd recently attended the Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders Congress 2026 in Uruguay, alongside Mr. Zimmermann, Mrs. Roder, and Br. O’Neill. The congress brought together members of the global Edmund Rice community for days of reflection, learning, and renewed commitment to service.

Here is his reflection of one of the most memorable moments of the trip where Pedro Algorta, who was one of the survivors of the 1972 Andes plane crash, appeared as a speaker:

Pedro Algorta, survivor of the 1972 Andes plane crash, stood before us and shared the story of how he and 15 others survived horrific conditions and unimaginable odds for 72 days in the mountains.

What struck me most was Pedro’s humility. Any suggestion that he had done something extraordinary was quickly redirected. He insisted that they simply did what anyone would do to survive. They put themselves to work. They worked as a team. They focused on what needed to be done in that moment, one day at a time.

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In Memory of Br. Bassett (1937-2026)

With profound sorrow and the hope of Resurrection, we share the heartbreaking news that Brother Ted Bassett went to his eternal rest early Friday morning, May 22.

For more than six decades, Brother Bassett devoted his life to the STMC community. Brother Bassett was the heart of our community. Generations of students, families, staff, and alumni have been shaped by his unwavering faith, his quiet wisdom, his joyful spirit, and his steadfast commitment to serving STMC and the Christian Brothers. Through his vocation, Brother Bassett embodied Christ’s call to love generously, to serve humbly, and to walk faithfully alongside others.

Brother Bassett possessed the rare gift of making each person feel known, valued, seen, and loved. Whether offering words of encouragement in moments of struggle, celebrating the successes of others, standing faithfully in prayer, or simply greeting students with warmth and kindness, Brother Bassett reminded us daily of God’s presence within us and among us.

He devoted his life to our shared STMC community. Brother Bassett’s legacy is the countless lives he transformed, hearts that he inspired, and faith that he strengthened. The halls of our school, our traditions, and our shared story bear the indelible imprint of Brother Basset’s life and love.

Our community grieves deeply. We grieve the loss of a beloved Brother, colleague, mentor, and friend. Yet as Catholics, we grieve with hope. We entrust Brother Bassett into the loving embrace of our Lord, trusting in Christ’s promise: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” (John 11:25)

For anyone who would like to attend, Bro’s Funeral will be held on Saturday June 6 at St. Peter’s Church in New Westminster at 10:30am with reception to follow at STMC.

Gr. 9 Retreat: Faith and Connection

Our Grade 9 students recently participated in a retreat led by the National Evangelization Team (NET), focused on faith, community, and personal reflection. The day included games, small group discussions, testimonies, and meaningful prayer experiences, creating a balance of fun and depth.

A highlight for many students was the opportunity for silent and personal prayer, where they could slow down and connect with God. One student shared it was “a chance to actually sit, reflect, and share my thoughts with Jesus.”

Students were also impacted by the stories shared by NET leaders, helping them see that faith is a journey and that God’s love is constant and personal. A key message that resonated was that “God loves you for who you are,” encouraging students to be authentic and open in their faith.

Overall, the retreat was a great success, strengthening both faith and community among our Grade 9 students. We thank the NET team for their leadership and witness

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Walkathon

This year, students, staff, and parent volunteers once again came together in support of one of STMC longstanding traditions, the Walkathon.

Funds raised through the Walk-A-Thon have supported important improvements across the school over the years, including upgraded and repaired drinking fountains, partial funding for gymnasium projectors, and new speaker systems for the multipurpose room and fitness centre.

This year, students have identified the following needs for monies raised to go towards:

• New and expanded soft seating for the cafeteria
• Permanent outdoor ping pong, foosball, and chess tables for the courtyard

Congratulations to Incoln, Chloe, and Alessia for being our top fundraisers this year!

Thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Walk-A-Thon and helped continue a tradition that has made a lasting impact on generations of Knights.

A Knight In Monte Carlo: Senior Formal

The Senior Spring Formal was the perfect way to celebrate the year together. From the music and dancing to spending time with friends, the whole night was filled with great memories. It was really special seeing everyone dressed up and having fun together, and it’s definitely a night we’ll all look back on and remember for a long time.

Huge thank you to everyone who helped make the night so successful including our chaperones and our Parents’ Association Decor Team! Lastly, thank you to all our Student Council for their hard work in putting the evening together.

Go Knights!

– Sevilla Rivas, Grad 2028

Pursuit Kitchen Returns to STMC

After a short break, Pursuit Kitchen is back at St. Thomas More!

Pursuit Kitchen is a unique service-learning program that combines cooking, sustainability, and outreach. Students work alongside professional chefs to learn valuable culinary skills while preparing nutritious meals using quality surplus and rescued food that might otherwise go to waste.

This semester, 10 STMC students are participating in the program, gaining hands-on experience in the kitchen while making a difference in the community. The meals they prepare are donated to local organizations that support those experiencing food insecurity and other challenges, helping to provide care and nourishment to people in need.

Pursuit Kitchen is a wonderful example of living out our faith through service, stewardship of creation, and concern for our neighbours.

Students interested in participating in Pursuit Kitchen next fall are encouraged to speak with Mr. Mattiazzo for more information and sign-up details. We look forward to welcoming a new group of student chefs and community leaders to this impactful program.

Ateneo de Manila High School Visit

On Thursday, May 28, STMC had the privilege of welcoming student ambassadors and their leaders from Ateneo de Manila Senior High School as part of our international partnership and cultural exchange program.

The day began with a special welcome ceremony before our guests were paired with STMC student ambassadors. Throughout the day, students toured the school, attended classes, shared meals, played games, and enjoyed music together. Conversations, laughter, and shared experiences helped students learn more about one another’s cultures, school life, and faith traditions.

What began as a visit quickly developed into meaningful connections and lasting friendships. The experience provided a wonderful opportunity for students from both schools to broaden their perspectives, celebrate their similarities and differences, and strengthen the bonds of our global Catholic community.

A special thank you goes to the members of our Blessed Edmund Rice Team (BERT) and student ambassadors who planned and led the day. Their enthusiasm, leadership, and welcoming spirit helped make the visit a tremendous success and ensured that our guests felt truly at home at STMC

Drama

Opening Knight Theatre Co. will be holding auditions for their next performance! Dates TBA

Recording & Sound

STMC alumni Nathan Rivers ’22 and Adam Ponis ’22 returned to campus on May 22 to speak with students about the making of their feature film, Starlight.

Nathan and Adam both developed an interest in film during their time at STMC and continued to pursue that passion after graduation by attending InFocus Film School. Since then, they have worked on a number of film projects, with Starlight marking a major milestone in their journey as young filmmakers.

The full-length film was screened in a local theatre this spring and was produced on a budget of just $1,000, an impressive accomplishment that speaks to their creativity, commitment, and resourcefulness.

During their visit, Nathan and Adam joined students in the Band Room during a sound and recording class to discuss the process of creating the film, from developing the idea to bringing it to the screen. They also shared insight into what it means to follow your interests beyond high school and continue building skills through post-secondary learning and hands-on experience.

Thank you to Nathan and Adam for returning to STMC and inspiring the next generation of student filmmakers.

Music

Excellence in Jazz Performance Award

Congratulations to Jazz Band A for winning this year’s Vancouver Kiwanis Festival “In The Pocket: Excellence in Jazz Performance Award.”

Only one jazz ensemble from the festival was selected for this major award and we are very proud of the students!

Senior Music Knight at the Chan Centre

Senior Music Knight at the Chan Centre was an incredible event for the Music Department. Congratulations to all student performers. We were also thrilled to welcome back over 50 alumni to perform with our band and choir.

Elementary Schools Visit

The Grade 8 Band and Choir recently visited and performed at Our Lady of Mercy, St. Michael’s, and St. Francis de Sales Elementary Schools.

Jazz Knight

Jazz Knight took place on May 25 at Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy. Congrats to our Jazz Singers, Jazz Band A and Jazz Band B on an outstanding performance!

Knights Ready for BC Championships After Historic Season

The St. Thomas More Knights Track & Field team continues to build on another successful season. Heading into the BC High School Track & Field Championships in Langley from June 4–6, the Knights have already captured an impressive six championship banners, highlighted by both the Burnaby New Westminster Overall Aggregate Championship and the Fraser North Zone Championship.

The team’s depth and talent were on full display throughout the season, as STMC also claimed titles as the Top Junior Team, Grade 8 Boys Champions, Junior Boys Champions, and Junior Girls Champions. These accomplishments reflect the dedication, perseverance, and commitment shown by our student-athletes throughout months of training and competition.

STMC will be sending another large team to compete at the provincial championships. 55 Knights have qualified to represent the school on British Columbia’s biggest high school track and field stage.

We congratulate Andres Villanueva, Michaele Aquilini, Gabriel Zhuang, Narayan Dhir, Evelyn Ashford Livingston, Ava Butzelaar, Davi Raminelli-Habib, Liam Golding, Tia Butzelaar, Mia Beliveau, Cristian Trainor, Betty Golding, Alisha Barts, Kyla Lemon, Liam Soriano, Cruz Gonzalez, Lola Beliveau, Evelyn Mar, Remo Giovinazzo, Eliah Landingan, Jared Bernardo, Jaden Piamonte, Liam Agas, Connor Lascu, Laura B-M Franqueira, Luke Nomura, Alison Lee, Jared Leung, Makaio Maver, Chris Freire, Shira Metzak, Luca Morello, Madison Tuason, Noah Perras, Daniel Leung, Tyler Cahill, Ariana Ogilvie, Francesca Lopez, Cruz De La Cruz, Milano Peloso, Lexa Maver, Nicole Lau, Maya Wilk, Tason Tran, Willa Penny, Jada Waite, Nikolina Batljan, Ziya Ali, Renee Chui, Damian Wise, Vir Rana, Emina Sidhu, Evan Woo, Nicola, Maire Leigh Salvio, Isaiah Smith, and Jorlene Tsang on earning the opportunity to compete at the provincial championships.

The entire STMC community is incredibly proud of what these athletes have accomplished this season. We wish them the very best as they compete against the top athletes in British Columbia.

Go Knights!

Ultimate Season Wraps Up

The ultimate program had a strong year with both the junior and senior teams putting up strong records in the Fraser North league. The junior team competed in many tournaments, finishing in the top six in most of them. They finished second at the Fraser North junior Zone tournament, qualifiying them for the BC Ultimate Tier 1 Junior Championships.

The senior team started the season by winning the Burnaby Central Summit, and carried that momentum across the season, to be one of the top AA teams in the province. They won their fifth consecutive Fraser North AA title, and went into provincials as the #3 seed. They battled hard across the tournament, ultimately losing their semi-finals game to the eventual provincial champions. The team had a large contingent of grade 12s, some that were rookies to the sport, and many of whom had been with the program for five years.

Student Athlete’s Banquet

We hosted our first annual Student Athlete’s Banquet this past Saturday and were so thrilled to recognize and celebrate the hard work of all of our student-athletes.

We want to thank:
Annika Montagano and Caitlin Cahill who emceed the evening;
Mairi Lister, Demicah Arnaldo, and Leo Recilla who created the slideshow and organized the certificates; Mr. James Borthistle for organizing the plaques;
our custodial staff for setting up the stage; our Parent Association and volunteers for helping us with set up, hospitality, and take down; Rayna Seganfreddo and Camila Lozano Ibarra for taking photos and doing the media for the evening.

Here is the list of winners:

Scholar Athletes:
Cathy Yan
Nathan Hoang
Krish Puri
Alisha Barts
Iestyn Lota
Julian Diaz
Lauren Wong
Martin Chaparro
Isabella Comuzzi
Jason Leung
Alex Jaspar
Luca Luongo
Bella De Lazzari
Max Manalo
Joaquin Santa Maria

Edmund Rice Community Leaders:
Davi Raminelli-Habib
Sarah de Dios
Laura Brant
Kristina Prtenjaca
Jaden Piamonte
Ethan Panaligan
Declan Williams
Caitlin Cahill

Team of the Year
JV: Track and Field
Varsity: Girls’ Basketball

StAC Servant Leader Award:
Cristian Trainor
Angela Mezo
Costa Lupsoiu
Sofia Vargas
Anissa Leung
Amanda Leung

Coach of the Year:
Mr. Frank Ashley

Outstanding Athletes:

Lexa Maver
Catarina Chartier
Liam Soriano
Peyton Brown
Andres Villanueva
Cayleigh Koh
Eliah Landingin
Evan Woo
Jada Waite
Jadelyn Bibera

Cruz Gonzales
Ai Ofreneo
Betty Golding
Damian Wise
Narayan Dhir
Vir Rana
Isaiah Smith
Laura Brant
Cristina Barichello
Evelyn Ashford-Livingstone

Rohin Badesha
Nicola Rogalski
Vidak Nikolic
Mairi Lister
Evelyn Mar
Kyla Limon
Illia Anoshyn
Bree Lu
Liam Golding
Elena Lupsoiu

Ethan Rodriguez Rey
Mia Beliveau
Cristian Coletta
Milano Peloso
Macy Bonavente
Logan Ball
Ava Butzelaar
Demicah Arnaldo
Makaio Maver

We also wanted to thank our keynote speaker, Keshia Corrales Nelson, for her words and for her generosity during the evening. She and her sisters, Zion Corrales Nelson and Shiloh Corrales graciously provided scholarships to six of our student athletes.

Rising Star Award and Scholarship Winner
Emina Sidhu

GRIT Award
Catarina Chartier – Gr 8
Matisse Boffo – Gr 9
Vidak Nikolic – Gr 10
Elijah Magrat – Gr 11
Makaio Maver – Gr 12 and Scholarship Winner

Unsung Hero
Madison Tuazon – Gr 8
Vanessa Giannotti – Gr 9
Jordan Jouhal – Gr 10
Jack James – Gr 11
Aiken Chavez and Caroline Wise – Gr 12 and Scholarship Winners

Multi Sport Excellence and Leadership
Lexa Maver – Gr 8
Narayan Dhir – Gr 9
Isaiah Smith – Gr 10
Liam Golding – Gr 11
Mia Beliveau – Gr 12 and Scholarship Winner

Congratulations to all of our student athletes!

In Memory of Br. Bassett (1937-2026)

With profound sorrow and the hope of Resurrection, we share the heartbreaking news that Brother Ted Bassett went to his eternal rest early Friday morning, May 22.

For more than six decades, Brother Bassett devoted his life to the STMC community. Brother Bassett was the heart of our community. Generations of students, families, staff, and alumni have been shaped by his unwavering faith, his quiet wisdom, his joyful spirit, and his steadfast commitment to serving STMC and the Christian Brothers. Through his vocation, Brother Bassett embodied Christ’s call to love generously, to serve humbly, and to walk faithfully alongside others.

Brother Bassett possessed the rare gift of making each person feel known, valued, seen, and loved. Whether offering words of encouragement in moments of struggle, celebrating the successes of others, standing faithfully in prayer, or simply greeting students with warmth and kindness, Brother Bassett reminded us daily of God’s presence within us and among us.

He devoted his life to our shared STMC community. Brother Bassett’s legacy is the countless lives he transformed, hearts that he inspired, and faith that he strengthened. The halls of our school, our traditions, and our shared story bear the indelible imprint of Brother Basset’s life and love.

Our community grieves deeply. We grieve the loss of a beloved Brother, colleague, mentor, and friend. Yet as Catholics, we grieve with hope. We entrust Brother Bassett into the loving embrace of our Lord, trusting in Christ’s promise: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” (John 11:25)

St. Michael’s Family Fun Festival

St. Michael’s Elementary School in Burnaby will be hosting its Family Fun Festival on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 12:00 to 4:00 pm.

This community afternoon will bring together students, families, and supporters for a fun-filled day featuring kids’ activities, games, food vendors, bingo, and a raffle. The event is an opportunity to celebrate the St. Michael’s school community while supporting their ongoing fundraising efforts.

STMC will once again be offering a prize package of a free spot for Jump Start. Make sure to be on the lookout for this if you know anyone in grade 7 and will be a Knight next year!

GKO Golf Tournament

Don’t wait to get in on this fun day with friends. Whether you are an avid golfer or this is your one round this year, let’s get it going!

The GKO is open to the entire STMC Community to come a be a part of one of our largest fundraisers of the year.

The monies raised by the GKO will fund the Ripple Effect Campaign which provides tuition assistance ensuring we never turn away a child due to financial hardship.

Your register includes:

• Enjoy a tee gift
• Games and giveaways at the holes
• Dinner
• AND guaranteed there will be weather!

Grad Breakfast

Calling all graduates!

Join us for one final breakfast together on June 18 at 10:00 AM. Brunch attire — summer dresses, skirts, or dress shorts, just a light summer dress-up style. After breakfast, we’ll head to the gym for our convocation practice run-through. We can’t wait to celebrate together!

Strategic Plan Survey

Update

The survey will remain open to collect as much data as possible. We encourage candid and honest feedback. Your input will play a direct role in shaping our path forward as we build this strategic plan to carry us through the next five years.

Link: Google Form Survey

We’re getting ready to take an important next step in shaping the future of our school.

Over the coming months, we will be developing a new Strategic Plan that will guide STMC for the next five years and we want to include the voices and experiences of our entire community: students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the school.

We’ll be taking a close look at everything from our Catholic and Edmund Rice identity, to academics, student life, wellbeing, and how we prepare our students for the future.

Next week, we’ll be sharing some more details about the process and what you can expect.

Shortly after, we will be inviting all members of our community to participate in a survey. This will be a key opportunity to share honest feedback, highlight what we’re doing well, and identify where we need to grow.

If you’re part of the STMC community, your voice matters in this process. Keep an eye out, we’ll be asking you to be part of it very soon!