Knights of Columbus Board of Directors elects Canadian Arthur Peters as next Deputy Supreme Knight

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut — The Knights of Columbus today announced the election of Arthur L. Peters of Brampton, Ontario, as Deputy Supreme Knight, effective July 1. Mr. Peters will succeed Deputy Supreme Knight Paul G. O’Sullivan of Foxboro, Massachusetts, who will retire next month after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

“On behalf of the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors and the more than 2 million Knights worldwide, I congratulate Arthur Peters on his election as Deputy Supreme Knight,” said Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly. “I look forward to serving with Arthur as we advance the mission of Blessed Michael McGivney — protecting mothers and their children, both born and unborn; strengthening Catholic men and their families, parishes and communities through greater evangelization and faith formation; and growing the Knights of Columbus globally.”

Mr. Peters joined the Knights of Columbus in 1986 as a charter member of Father Clair Tipping Council 9235 in Brampton, Ontario. He served in numerous officer positions for his council, district and the Ontario State Council, which he led as State Deputy from 2010 to 2011. He served as host committee chairman for the Knights’ international convention that was held in Toronto in 2016. Mr. Peters is presently in his third three-year term on the Board of Directors, which today elected him Deputy Supreme Knight. In the second highest fraternal leadership role, Mr. Peters will assist Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, and his duties will include serving as chairman of several board committees and principal liaison to the more than 200,000 Knights in Canada.

Mr. Peters has worked in the nonprofit sector with Youth Assisting Youth, which provides mentorship and tutoring, and with the Canadian Red Cross. For 15 years, he was a member of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and served as its vice chair and chair. He is an active parishioner of St. Anthony’s Church in Brampton, coming from one of the founding families of the parish. Since 2005, Mr. Peters has worked as the Director of Development for the Archdiocese of Toronto, a position he will retain during his tenure as Deputy Supreme Knight. He resides in Brampton with his wife, Angela, an executive in the nonprofit sector.

Supreme Knight Kelly continued, “I also extend my gratitude to Deputy Supreme Knight Paul O’Sullivan for his nearly 50 years of service to the Order. When I became Supreme Knight in March 2021, one of my first decisions was to recommend Paul O’Sullivan for election as Deputy Supreme Knight. Over the last two years, it has been an honor to serve alongside such a dedicated Knight, who is always guided by his deep Catholic faith.” He concluded, “It is men like Paul O’Sullivan who make the Knights of Columbus such a great organization.” 

About the Knights of Columbus

In 1882, Blessed Michael McGivney, a young parish priest in New Haven, Connecticut, founded the Knights of Columbus to serve the needs of a largely immigrant Catholic community. What began as a small fraternal benefit society has since grown into the world’s premier lay Catholic men’s organization, with more than 2 million members in over 16,000 local councils. As one of the world’s leading international charitable organizations, Knights around the world donated approximately 48 million service hours and nearly $154 million for worthy causes in their communities in 2021. The Knights of Columbus also offers extensive life insurance products to members and their families. Knights of Columbus currently has more than $121 billion* of life insurance in force and was named by Forbes as one of America’s Best Insurance Companies 2023. In addition, the Knights provides investment services in accord with Catholic social teaching through Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, which holds more than $25 billion in assets under management. Based on the founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus is committed to strengthening Catholic families and parishes and to practicing faith in action through service to all in need. To learn more or to join the Knights of Columbus, please visit kofc.org/join.