Today, the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, and the
Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Labrador Affairs, officially opened
the new francophone school,
école Boréale, in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The ministers were joined
by Michel Genest, Director of the Conseil scolaire francophone, and Leo Abbass,
Mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
"This new school is one of many being constructed across Newfoundland
and Labrador which will provide children and youth with quality learning
environments," said Minister King. "The new école Boréale will serve
generations of francophone children in this region, offering excellence
in educational programming in their own language and culture."
The Provincial Government
invested $2.2 million for the new facility which replaced the former
school. An additional $300,000 was provided under the
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Agreement for Minority-Language
Education and Second Official Language Instruction for a pre-school
facility to be located in the new building where early childhood
learning will offered to francophone children.
"The opening of école Boréale is a commitment made by the Government
of Newfoundland and Labrador through its Northern Strategic Plan
and now can be added to the plan's growing list of achievements," said
Minister Hickey. "This excellent francophone school is certainly helping
to meet our dual education objectives of improved and increased
infrastructure and enhanced educational programming throughout
Labrador."
Mista Shipu Construction Ltd. built the school, which consists of a
special needs suite, a resource centre, a multi-purpose room, an
administrative area, a staff lounge and three classrooms, one of which
has a moveable wall to create a larger space.
"We are thrilled that the Provincial Government
has supported francophone education with the construction of the
wonderful new francophone school in Happy Valley-Goose Bay," said
Dr. Ahmed Derradji-Aouat, Chair of the Conseil scolaire francophone.
"One of the clear factors supporting the growth of the francophone
education is quality buildings. We have witnessed this first hand with
the construction of the école des Grands-Vents in St. John's, which gave
teachers, administrators and staff an improved ability to deliver a
quality education."
Approximately $113 million has been allocated for K-12 infrastructure
in Budget 2010: The Right Investments - For Our Children and Our
Future. Thirteen new schools are in progress across the province, in
either construction or planning phases. Since 2004, the Provincial
Government has allocated approximately $389 million for K-12 repairs and
maintenance and new school construction.
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