Our History

In the early years, the Notre Dame Family took on a passive, supportive role assisting with functions and modest fundraising.

In May 1987, three years after the announcement of full funding by the Provincial Government, the Notre Dame Family was approached about the possibility of operating the cafeteria when the school itself could no longer administer it. This would enable the profits to be realized within the school community as opposed to having the profits benefit an outside supplier.

In November 1987 the ND Family was incorporated as the Notre Dame Family Student Services Welland, which made it a non-profit corporation and broadened its services from simple fund raising and volunteer assistance to a corporate operation of the cafeteria providing nutritious meals and allocating the funds generated.

In the 1994-95 school year, The Notre Dame Family took over the Bookstore (now known as ND Outfitters), eventually taking on the role of supplying the school uniform in-house as opposed to hiring an outside supplier. This served to expand the operation and realize an increase in profits for the Family.

Also, during the 1994–1995 school year, the Notre Dame Family, in conjunction with the Alumni, committed over $90,000 to the construction of a new chapel.

In the early 2000s we once again committed over $160,000 in funding towards the expansion of the school to provide Notre Dame students with superior facilities.

The Notre Dame Family is very proud of where we started and just as proud of what we have become today. We are continuing to write history as we go forward each and every year and we invite you to be a part of it by joining this great organization.

The first Notre Dame Family executive board - formed in 1954

Article from the 1956 Yearbook