Community Information Session Q&A

On Wednesday, September 16, Loyola hosted a community information session, providing an opportunity for members of our community to hear directly from school leaders about the decision, ask questions, and share their thoughts and concerns. We appreciated the thoughtful questions and open dialogue throughout the session. The following is a summary of the questions asked, and the answers shared during the discussion.

• Understanding Bill 9 and Loyola’s Decision
• How the Decision Was Made
• What the Community Survey Told Us
• Tuition, Subsidies and the Cost of Independence
• Financial Aid
• Enrolment and Admissions
• Academics and Curriculum
• Pensions
• The Capital Campaign

Understanding Bill 9 and Loyola’s Decision

What is Bill 9 and how does it affect Loyola?

Bill 9 is the name commonly used to refer to An Act respecting the reinforcement of laicity in Québec. Adopted and assented to on April 2, 2026, Bill 9 amended several existing Quebec laws to strengthen the province’s legal framework on laicity, including provisions affecting subsidized private schools.

Bill 9 requires private schools in Quebec that receive a government subsidy to remove religious teaching and activities from the teaching hours of the school day, or they will lose that subsidy within three years. In response, Loyola's Board of Governors (the “Board”) and the Jesuit Board of Directors voted unanimously to pursue full independence from government subsidies, in order to preserve Loyola's Catholic identity and Jesuit mission.

Why proceed now instead of waiting for the outcome of the provincial election or the possibly relevant Bill 21 Supreme Court appeal?

The timing and the outcome of both the election and the court process are unknown, and waiting for either would put Loyola's ability to plan and act at risk. The Board decided that it could not responsibly wait. If the legal or political landscape changes, Loyola can adjust course, but the school needs to plan based on the information and legal framework currently available rather than hope that a better outcome will arrive in time.

Has Loyola considered a legal challenge to Bill 9?

The Board and the Strategic Assessment and Planning Committee (the “SAPC”) considered all options, including legal action, and concluded that pursuing a legal challenge was not the best strategic path for Loyola. The school will continue to monitor the legal landscape and will always preserve all of its rights as circumstances evolve.

Is Loyola the only funded religious school that has chosen to become fully independent?

Yes. As of September 24, 2026, Loyola is not aware of any other Catholic school in Quebec pursuing independence from government funding. Other schools affiliated with religious denominations are also working through the implications of Bill 9, and Loyola has had both formal and informal discussions with several of them.

How the Decision Was Made

What process led to this decision?

The Board formed the SAPC to lead a process of discernment on the impact of Bill 9 and recommend a path forward. The SAPC commissioned three independent, third-party studies plus a survey: 

• a financial feasibility study, completed by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP
• a pension impact study, completed by L.S. Financial Services Inc.
• a philanthropic capacity study, completed by KCI
• a community-wide survey in July 2026

Nearly 1,500 people responded to the survey, a 22% response rate, which the SAPC’s consultants described as significantly above the standard. The SAPC's recommendations were then presented to the Board, which approved them. The decision was then ratified by the Jesuit Board of Directors.

Is the SAPC and the Board representative of the community?

The SAPC included the following members:

• Anthony Broccolini '99, Chair, and current parent
• Patrick M. Shea '90, Chair, Loyola Board of Governors, former Chair of the Loyola High School Foundation, former president of the Loyola High School Alumni Association, and past parent
• Matthew Hendzel, SJ, President, Loyola Board of Directors
• Wendy Polverari, Vice-Principal of Senior School, Loyola High School, and former head of Loyola High School Teachers’ Association
• Fouad Maroun, President, Loyola High School
• Scott Corbett, Vice President of Advancement, Loyola High School

Several of these individuals also sit on the Board of Governors or the Jesuit Board of Directors. That overlap is by design, because Loyola's governance model relies on continuity between a committee and the boards to which a committee ultimately reports. It does not mean these individuals alone approved their own recommendation: the SAPC's work required a vote of the full Board and the full Jesuit Board of Directors, each of which is made up of numerous members who did not also serve on the SAPC, and both boards approved the recommendation unanimously.

For more information about Loyola's governance structure, you may visit here. For information about the Loyola High School Foundation Board of Directors, please click here.

Why was the announcement made after the school year began?

The SAPC wanted to complete its work thoroughly before making a recommendation to the Board, and this process took time. Once the governance process was completed and both boards voted on the SAPC's recommendation, the news was shared with the full community only a few days later. Faculty and staff were informed first that same morning, before the wider community, including incoming families, were notified that afternoon. 

The announcement was made before the September 2026 Open House so that prospective families would have relevant information.

Who is actually making these decisions, and how do the different boards and committees relate to each other?

The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) owns Loyola.

The Jesuit Board of Directors, made up of Jesuit members, is Loyola’s ultimate governing authority and signs off on major strategic decisions.

The Board of Governors, made up of laypeople and Jesuits, is entrusted with the oversight of the school's management, operations, and strategic direction.

When Bill 9 was introduced, the Board formed the SAPC to study the issue.

The SAPC made its recommendations to the Board, which approved them, and the Jesuit Board of Directors then ratified that decision. This is the same process that had been followed for other major decisions, including the move to coeducation.

What the Community Survey Told Us

What did the community survey demonstrate?

Three themes stood out. 

First, what people value most about Loyola is the experience itself, including academic excellence, character formation, community, accessibility, and Jesuit and Catholic identity. 

Second, affordability and accessibility were the greatest concerns by far, particularly the risk that a large tuition increase could change who would be able to attend Loyola. 

Third, the community asked for ongoing transparency and communication throughout the process. 

85% of the respondents said it is very or moderately important that Loyola remain accessible to students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, and 61% expressed support for Loyola's Jesuit, Catholic identity.

Who responded to the survey?

45% were alumni, 38% were current parents or guardians, 18% were parents of alumni, 11% were parents of incoming students, 11% self-identified as donors, 4% were current faculty or staff, 3% were friends of Loyola, and 2% were former faculty or staff. Respondents could select more than one category.

Tuition, Subsidies and the Cost of Independence

Is tuition increasing now because of this decision, and will it increase before 2029?

No. Tuition and fees for the 2026-2027 school year were set earlier this year, and tuition and fees next year and beyond will rise only with the same annual increases the school has applied for years, tied to inflation and operating costs, until the year Loyola leaves the government subsidy program. Those routine increases are not related to or affected by Bill 9.

When exactly will tuition rise to reflect the loss of the subsidy?

What we know as of September 24, 2026, is that Loyola will lose the government subsidy at the start of the school year following the end of the three-year compliance window set out in Bill 9. The precise start date of that window is still being confirmed with the government, because the legislation is unclear on this point. Until then, tuition will increase by the same year-to-year increases as mentioned above and will increase further to offset the loss of the subsidy beginning in the 2029-2030 school year.

Where did the $20,000 to $21,000 tuition figure come from? Is that the new tuition amount?

That figure, used in the school's Q&A materials, is a modelling estimate intended only to show what tuition would need to be, in today's dollars, to fully offset the loss of the subsidy and related costs if the change were to take effect today. It is not a set tuition amount or a ceiling. Actual tuition in 2029-2030 and beyond will reflect inflation between now and then, the value of the subsidy at that time, and other related transition costs. Loyola cannot confirm the specific amount at this time.

The subsidy is about $6,300 per student. Why does the modelling show an increase closer to $7,500?

Leaving the subsidy also means that our staff members will need to leave the government pension plan (“RREGOP”) and transition to a private pension plan, which carries additional costs. The additional pension costs associated with leaving RREGOP bring the total modelled additional cost to approximately $7,500 per student in today’s dollars.

Will current families be grandfathered into today's tuition, or otherwise protected from the larger increase?

No. All families, current and incoming, will be subject to the same tuition and fees, and will see the same year-to-year increases. When the larger increase takes effect after Loyola leaves the government subsidy program, it will apply equally to all families. 

The intended protection for families who need assistance is our financial aid program, not a separate tuition track.

Will the multi-child sibling discount continue or change?

The current discount, 5% off tuition for a second child and 10% for a third or subsequent child, remains in place. No decision has been made about changing it in the future.

Has Loyola looked at reducing costs, not just raising revenue, before asking more of families?

Cost discipline is already a regular part of the school budgets: Loyola's spending is planned and approved annually through the Board. Losing the subsidy does not increase the underlying cost of educating a student; it shifts who will cover that cost, from the government, parents, and financial aid combined to parents and financial aid combined.

Financial Aid

How does financial aid work at Loyola?

Financial aid is need-blind and confidential: admission decisions and financial aid applications are assessed independently, so applying for aid does not affect whether a student is admitted.

Loyola works with an independent third party, Apple Financial Services (“AFS”), which reviews a family’s financial documentation and recommends a bursary based on the family’s overall financial circumstances and capacity to pay, not simply their income. Families who wish to appeal a financial aid decision may do so through Loyola’s established appeal process. Details about the appeal process will be provided as part of the financial aid application.

All financial aid information is kept strictly confidential and is shared only with those involved in the financial aid review process.

 Is there an income threshold that determines eligibility for financial aid?

No, there is no fixed income threshold or cutoff to qualify for financial aid at Loyola. Because every family's financial situation is unique, AFS conducts a comprehensive, confidential evaluation that looks far beyond gross household income. Their assessment considers a complete picture of a family's financial capacity, including:

• Total household income and assets (e.g., savings, home equity, investments, etc.)
• Liabilities and debt (e.g., mortgages, loans, extraordinary expenses, etc.)
• Family size and dependents (including other children attending tuition-charging schools)
• Special circumstances (e.g., medical costs, eldercare, employment changes, etc.)

Two families with exactly the same household income may receive very different aid recommendations based on their overall expenses and obligations. 

Families who feel paying full tuition would be a challenge are strongly encouraged to submit an application through AFS so that their individual circumstances can be fairly evaluated.

As tuition rises, will the criteria for financial aid change?

The assessment process itself will not change. What changes is the comparison point: aid is calculated against the tuition amount in effect the year a family applies, so, as tuition rises, more families will fall into the range where they qualify for support, even if their own financial capacity has not changed.

How much financial aid does Loyola currently provide, and how is that expected to change?

Over the past 10 years, 15 to 20% of students have received financial aid, covering, on average, roughly two-thirds of tuition and fees for those students annually. As fees rise, the school expects that more families will require financial assistance, which is why growing the financial aid endowment is the central goal of the upcoming capital campaign.

Will Loyola offer merit-based scholarships, for academics or athletics, in addition to need-based aid?

No. Financial aid will remain entirely need-based, consistent with our current practice of being need-based rather than merit-based.

Are there data on whether current or prospective families can actually afford the higher tuition?

No specific and credible family-level income data was available to use in the financial modelling because Loyola does not ask families about their financial information, other than those who apply for financial aid. The financial feasibility study used estimates based on postal codes as a proxy. This is an imperfect but useful way to understand the range of financial circumstances across the community. 

Affordability was the community's greatest concern in the survey, and it is the central reason why growing the school’s endowment, so that a rising share of families can be supported at whatever level they need, is the primary goal of the upcoming capital campaign.

Will factors like number of children enrolled, alumni connections, or academic and athletic achievement affect financial aid eligibility or award size?

The number of children (whether at Loyola or elsewhere) and other financial factors are already built into the AFS assessment.

Alumni connections or academic or athletic achievement are not taken into effect in determining how much financial aid will be awarded.

Enrolment and Admissions

When can Loyola accept students who don't have a certificate of eligibility for English instruction?

Only once Loyola is operating without the government subsidy, which is expected to be no earlier than the 2029-2030 school year. Until then, the English-language-education eligibility requirement still applies, so a student without that certificate cannot be admitted, even though the school has announced its future intention to become financially independent.

Is Loyola planning to grow enrolment to help offset the lost subsidy?

No. The school is already operating near full capacity and does not plan to expand. Loyola currently receives more applicants than it has spots to offer. The school will continue to monitor enrolment and admissions trends as tuition changes.

If enrolment drops because of higher tuition, is there a contingency plan?

Financial planning included modelling a range of scenarios, including more conservative ones, as part of preparing responsibly, and leadership is confident in Loyola's ability to operate under a range of outcomes. A decline of this nature is not expected: if anything, opening admissions to all students, once the English-eligibility requirement no longer applies, may increase the pool of applicants, not reduce it.

Will class sizes grow if applications increase?

No. Class sizes are capped under Loyola's agreement with its teachers, with only minor exceptions related to course streaming, generally in Secondary 3 to 5.

Are there plans to expand the physical facilities or classroom capacity?

No. Given current construction costs, and because the priority for any funds raised is financial aid rather than capital projects, there are no plans to expand facilities or classroom capacity.

Would Loyola consider accepting out-of-province or international students, or reopening boarding, to offset lost revenue?

No. Loyola stopped operating as a boarding school more than 60 years ago and has no plans to reopen one. It will continue as a day school. Once English-eligibility requirements no longer apply, the eligible applicant pool may expand significantly, but that reflects a larger potential pool, not an expectation that enrolment itself will grow.

Academics and Curriculum

Will independence change the curriculum or day-to-day academic program?

No. Loyola operates under a government permit and remains subject to the Ministry of Education's curriculum and graduation requirements regardless of its funding status. Loyola will continue to deliver the required government curriculum for secondary education. The core academics and the day-to-day student experience will remain unchanged.

Will academic standards rise, fall, or change in any way?

The intention is to maintain and continue to strengthen the high academic standards for which Loyola is known. This commitment is guided by the Grad at Grad profile, which outlines the qualities and characteristics of the graduate Loyola seeks to form.

This also includes the 4Cs of Jesuit education: Competence, Conscience, Compassion, and Commitment, which together aim to develop well-rounded individuals dedicated to academic excellence, ethical reflection, and serving others for the greater good.

Does Loyola teach students about religions other than Catholicism?

Yes. Although Loyola is a Jesuit Catholic school, students are also introduced to other religious traditions and learn about them, while being supported and respected in their own faith journeys, including those who are not Catholic. Loyola teaches the mandatory Culture and Citizenship in Quebec course at the appropriate grade levels. Parts of the Ethical and Religious Studies program provide students with opportunities to reflect on their own personal faith journeys and, in Secondary 5, to study World Religions.

Some families and students have noticed more religious language and tone in school communications recently. Is this a deliberate shift?

Loyola has been a Jesuit Catholic school since 1896 (with roots dating to 1848, when St. Mary’s College was founded, from which institution Loyola was spun out in 1896), and religious activities have always been part of the school day. What has increased lately is communication specifically about Bill 9 and its implications, which is different from a change in the underlying program.

Pensions

How are faculty and staff pensions affected by leaving the government subsidy?

Leaving the subsidy also means leaving RREGOP, the government's pension plan, and moving faculty and staff to a private pension plan. That plan was presented to faculty and staff before the summer of 2026, and our pension plan consultant is working through each employee's individual situation to manage their transition.

The Capital Campaign

What is the goal of the capital campaign, and what will it fund?

The upcoming capital campaign's purpose is to significantly grow Loyola's endowment so that financial aid can keep pace with the higher tuition levels that will follow the loss of the government subsidy. It will be the largest fundraising campaign in Loyola's history. Full details, including a fundraising target, have not yet been finalized or announced, though planning and early donor conversations are well underway.

Will tuition dollars go toward financial aid?

No. Tuition and fees are set to cover the cost of running the school; donations will be raised specifically to strengthen financial aid. The more that is raised in the capital campaign, the more the school can provide, but tuition and fees themselves will not be used for financial aid.

Will capital campaign funds be used to reduce costs for all families?

Funds raised will go to provide financial aid for families who need it, and not to fund a general reduction in tuition for all families regardless of their need. Loyola would need to raise a substantial amount of money – significantly more than Loyola or any other high school in Montreal would realistically ever be able to raise – to be able to finance a tuition reduction for our families. 

Will donors have a say in how their gifts are used?

As is the case today, every donor is invited to discuss how they would like their gift to be directed, and Loyola's Advancement team works with donors to align that intent with the school's greatest needs and priorities. For more information or to discuss donor opportunities, please contact development@loyola.ca.

Besides donating money, how else can the community help?

In the near term, the community can help by being positive ambassadors for Loyola, and spreading accurate information about the school's financial aid program to prospective families who might otherwise assume Loyola is unaffordable. Families are encouraged to direct their questions to the school as needed.  

Where can I find more information or ask a question that isn't covered here?

Questions can be sent anytime to info@loyola.ca. This Q&A document will continue to be updated as more questions come in and as more details, particularly around the campaign, become available.