Catholic Schools in the Diocese existed long before Pope Pius XI created the Diocese of Nelson in 1936. It was in 1859 that Rev. Charles Pandosy O.M.I, established the first Catholic School in the Okanagan Valley. Some 40 years later, St. Eugene Mission in the East Kootenays came into existence and served the people in the area for a number of years. It was around the same time, in 1898, that the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in Nelson and opened a two-room boarding school enrolling 84 children. The schools that originally were opened throughout the Diocese in those early years have since closed and today seven schools are in operation.

The Sisters of Charity of Halifax arrived in Kelowna and started St. Joseph School (K-7), the largest school in the Diocese, with one kindergarten class in 1939. Bishop Johnson opened St. Joseph School (now called Holy Cross School) in Penticton with the Sisters of St. Ann in 1952. A year later, he opened St. Michael’s School (K-7) in Trail. By 1960, Kelowna was ready to expand and Immaculata Regional High School (8-12) was built on the St. Joseph School property under the leadership of Bishop Doyle. It wasn’t until 1965 that St. Mary’s School in Cranbrook became a reality through the joint efforts of Bishop Doyle, St. Mary’s Parish, and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, Indian Affairs Branch. St. Joseph School in Nelson (K-7) was able to re-open its doors in 1979. As the Okanagan continued to grow, two more elementary schools came into existence under Bishop Mallon’s guidance. Holy Cross (K-7) in Penticton re-opened in 1993 and the following year the newest school in the diocese, Our Lady of Lourdes (K-7) in West Kelowna, came on the scene. By 1995 Immaculata Regional High School had outgrown its space and a new site was established on KLO Road.

Schools of the Diocese were originally staffed by religious orders of brothers, sisters and priests but today lay people are employed and are supported by the religious of the area. In 1957, Bishop McCarthy established the Catholic Public Schools of the Nelson Diocese (CPSND) and a decision in 1998 saw the name changed to the Catholic Independent Scools of the Nelson Diocese. (CISND). Catholic education in the diocese remains strong and committed to its mission of “In partnership with home and Church, the schools of the diocese strive to educate the whole child with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ as its foundation.”