A long-time Brant County councillor is challenging an long-time trustees for Brant County's one seat on the Catholic District School Board.

Published Aug 14, 2026  •  Last updated 4 days ago  •  2 minute read

Municipal elections in Ontario will be held on Oct. 26, 2026. File

For the first time in more than 10 years, the campaign to represent Brant County on the Catholic district school board will be a contested race.

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David Miller is challenging long-time Catholic School Board trustee Dan Dignard for the county’s one spot on the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. Miller is a long-time Brant County councilor representing Ward 4.

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Dignard was acclaimed to the position in the 2018 and 2022 elections and was re-elected in a contested race in 2014. Dignard was also acclaimed in 2010.

“The decision to not run again for council was a difficult one,” Miller said. “After 16 years of service, I’m proud of the work I have done.

“Upon reflection, it is time for me to focus my energies in a different public role while still contributing positively to our community.”

Miller said he is especially proud of the successful effort to bring Brant Transit public transportation to the county with the help of former Brant County Coun. Mark Laferriere.

“That was an idea spawned by the Roundtable on Poverty, of which I was a part of,” Miller said. “I got the idea of a shared ride program from Innisfil which had implemented it and is similar to Brant in that they have a lot of rural with a couple of built up ideas. I’m really proud of that.”

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Miller cited the acquisition of Apps Mill and expansion of Biggars Landfill, as well as,expansion of high-speed internet to rural residents as accomplishments he will remember from his time on county council.

“The separate school trustee role is something I’ve thought about for awhile now as it encompasses a lot of my own skills and experiences,” Miller said. “I was educated in the separate board as were my children.”

Dignard is in his 50th year as a Catholic school board trustee and has seen a lot of changes and the growth of the school board which now has three high schools – St. John’s College and Assumption College in Brantford and Holy Trinity in Simcoe.

A fourth secondary school for the Catholic board, the third for Brantford, is under construction on Powerline Road.

“I have served on virtually every committee and I have been chair and vice-chair of the board several times,” Dignard said.

Dignard was one of four Catholic district school board candidates to fly to Europe to purchase art for the new secondary school at a cost of nearly $50,000 in July 2024.

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The eight-day trip sparked outrage in the community has details concerning lavish meals, upgraded flights and price accommodations became public.

Paul Calandra, Ontario’s education minister, subsequently ordered the four trustee to repay funds to the board and three – Dignard, board chair Rick Petrella and Bill Chopp – fully repaid all amounts related to travel expenses to the board. The fourth – Mark Watson – declined and resigned from the board.

Dignard declined to comment on the trip when asked about it on Friday.

None of the other trustees have filed to run for re-election and on Friday, Chopp announced on social media that he would not be seeking re-election.

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