The idea of opening a Serbian primary school is not new and the need for higher quality education is a long-standing thought. Especially in the past few years, parents are increasingly looking for private schools as an alternative to the state system.
We have the example of other communities of different religions, which opened their schools 25-40 years ago. They are aware of how important, or better said, necessary, it is to educate and raise children in their faith, tradition and culture. Many psychologists and sociologists talk about how “loss of identity” is one of the causes of mental illness for people who live in distraction. More precisely, disconnection with their origins and roots.
Thank God, our Serbian community in Canada is large. Ontario is the province with the largest population of Serbs throughout the country. The first settlers in these areas invested painstaking effort and sacrifice to build our churches and numerous cultural organizations. As much as we are grateful to them, we are obliged to leave a legacy for future generations. To provide our children with what is necessary for their upbringing and education – and that is school!
In December 2023, with the blessing of our Reverend Bishop Mitrofan, a group of like-minded parents and volunteers gathered for the first meeting at our Serbian center in Mississauga. From that group, a working committee of ambitious people, full of will, energy and faith was established to open a school for our children. As a founding team, we call out the following members: Jovana Popović, Jovana Vujinović, Dejana Ćeranić, Aleksandra Papić, Neven Vujinović, Ognjen Višnjevac and Miloš Mutapčić.
From that day, work started in all directions. The research survey, which was launched as an initial step, proved with its results how much parents yearn for a school they can call “their own”. This fact encouraged our work team even more and gave the wind behind to make the long-standing dream come true. From studying the Ministry’s regulations from education for private schools, to legal forms, city and necessary permits, policies, programs and many other procedures, a serious work team has been established, which does not stop!
Given the volume of work and investment in this project, our volunteer work team is expanding, with the support of hardworking members of our community in every area. We have also established a working group of educators who, with their many years of experience, will contribute to a high-quality plan and program for our children, which, in addition to academic subjects, also includes religious studies.
The initial school space was chosen on the property of the Church of the All Serbian Saints in Mississauga, more precisely in our center next to the church. At the same time, we would like to express our great gratitude to the church school administration, which unanimously supported this important project and continues to support our work team every step of the way. We would like to emphasize that we are still in the process of obtaining the necessary permits from the City of Mississauga regarding the location and will provide further updates.
It is projected that the official opening of the school will be in September 2025, and that the possibility of early registration will open already in November 2024. The school will, to begin with, only accept lower grades JK-1/2, with a plan to add higher grades year by year.
Also, we opened an Instagram page so that members of our community can follow the progress of the project (@svetisavaskola).
We will be holding our first voluntary event to raise funds for the initial costs of the project at the church property at 2520 Dixie Rd, Mississauga, on June 2, 2024 from 1-5pm. We invite all members of our community, primarily parents, grandparents to come with their children and join in! A rich program called “School Day” has been planned, which, we believe, will please everyone who will come and support us!
For those who want to be sponsors, please contact: info@svetisavaskola.com.
If you are unable to join us and would like to support the school, you can send your donation to donate@svetisavaskola.com.
“Svetosavlje” is our path. Who else could be our leader and example but our father Saint Sava, who built many churches and monasteries during his lifetime, enlightened our people and continues to do so to this day. In his words, truly: “Само слога Србина спасава!“
Thank you for your support in spreading the vision of our school throughout the community. We believe that this school will serve as a “beacon” to other cities and our communities across Canada, just as our schools in Chicago and Milwaukee serve as an example for us – from which we have received full support from the very beginning!












Dragan Marković Foto: Filip Karainčanić/Nova.rs„Tada sam shvatio da me ispunjava muzika i da je to ono što hoću da radim. Igrom slučaja sam organizovao turneju Aleksandru Sofronijeviću pred koronu, pa sam sa njima proživeo 15 dana od Toronta do Vankuvera, osetio sam da sam 50 godina želim da živim taj život. Nije bilo lako, tu je bilo nespavanje, pa letovi, koncerti, ali sam shvatio da je to nešto što ja želim jer muzika je najveća želja u mom životu“, pričao je Dragan.









Foto: Svetlana Braun