Education
February 18, 2011

Improvements Planned for West Coast Francophone School

École Notre-Dame-du-Cap in Cap Saint-George’s on the Port au Port Peninsula will soon be getting $103,000 in electrical upgrades.

“Maintaining our schools to current safety standards is an ongoing process,” said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education. “We continuously consult and investigate to ensure required work is being done. As such, there are hundreds of infrastructure projects being undertaken at any given time throughout the province. This electrical upgrade, for example, is one of 132 such projects approved since 2004, for a total investment of more than $21 million.”

The tender for the work was recently awarded to Integral Energy Services Ltd.

“This is great news for the students, parents and staff at École Notre-Dame-du-Cap in Cap Saint-Georges,” said Tony Cornect, MHA for Port au Port. “This funding ensures they will continue to have a safe school to come to and participate in their education. I am pleased that our government continues to support a positive educational experience through these very important funding initiatives.”

In addition to the new $2.5 million francophone school, which opened last year in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and the work being undertaken at École Notre-Dame-du-Cap, Minister Burke noted other schools in the Francophone Board are scheduled to receive infrastructure improvements this year. Centre educatif l’ENVOL in Labrador City will get its roof replaced and funding has also been allocated for heating system upgrades. Meanwhile, $267,000 in ventilation upgrades are planned for École Ste-Anne in La Grand’Terre.

“The Provincial Government supports all French language education, and we recognize, in particular, that the provision of French first-language education for our francophone youth is important to maintaining a strong and vibrant francophone community in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Minister Burke. “We are pleased to see that enrolment in French first-language schools is growing, as parents and students recognize the importance of retaining their francophone culture and heritage.”

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2011 02 18                                                         10:00 a.m.