Michael Borgfjord, Superintendent of the Black Gold School Division, has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA). The national honour was presented at the CASSA 2026 Annual Conference, held July 2 to 4 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The award recognizes outstanding leadership in education. Borgfjord was nominated by Kevin Kaardal, a recently retired superintendent from Central Okanagan Public Schools and past president of CASSA. Kaardal cited Borgfjord’s collaborative approach and his deep focus on student success.
“This award reflects not only Michael’s exceptional leadership but also the collective efforts of our staff, students, trustees, and community, who share a commitment to educational excellence,” said Board Chair Angie Charpentier.
Borgfjord has 18 years of experience as Chief Superintendent in both Manitoba and Alberta. He joined Black Gold on June 1, 2024, after serving as Superintendent of Schools for Pembina Hills School Division. He holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba and began his career in public education right after graduation in 1994. Borgfjord has also served as President of the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents and as Chair of the Alberta Rural Education Symposium.
“It is a real privilege to receive this award,” Borgfjord said. “The primary responsibility of a leader is to create conditions so that others succeed. I’ve learned in education that improvements and successes are achieved by a team. We have a strong team in Black Gold, and this award is really a reflection of the work we have done together.”
Black Gold School Division serves about 13,500 students across 32 schools in Beaumont, Calmar, Devon, Leduc, New Sarepta, Thorsby, and Warburg. The division recently approved a $187.3 million budget for the 2026-27 school year, with projected enrolment growth of nearly two percent to 13,815 students.
