French-speaking parents call for expansion of Fort McMurray's francophone school
CBC
French-speaking parents in Fort McMurray are calling on the province to expand the community's only francophone school, so students are not forced to finish their education in a primarily English environment.
Parent council president Melissa LaRose says francophone students currently go to École Boréale up to Grade 9, then move to École McTavish Public High School, a primarily English school, to complete their francophone education.
The parent council is asking the Minister of Education to look into expanding École Boréale so students can remain until Grade 12.
"I know that my daughter is losing culture in the sense that her French has diminished," LaRose said. "Here in a francophone education, everything is happening in French to create that French culture."
There are currently 12 students in grades 10 through 12 in the francophone program.
Tanya Saumure, board chair for Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord, said it's unacceptable francophone students have to finish their education in an English language environment.
The board is studying the best way forward for École Boréale, including expansion, modernization or a new building.
"I don't know of any anglophone schools in Fort McMurray that can't house all of their students under one roof and that's the equivalency that we're seeking," Saumure said.
She pointed to a decision from the Supreme Court of Canada in B.C. in June 2020, which says the government was systematically under-funding francophone education.
École Boréale is not currently listed on the province's approved capital-school projects list.
"We cannot speak to what will be announced in Budget 2022," Katherine Stavropoulos, press secretary for Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange, said in an email.
"However, Alberta's government is committed to meeting our obligations for the delivery of French language education in the province."
Alexandra Tarasenco, parent of four, was hoping École Boréale would expand to Grade 10 so her daughter would be able to stay at the school for one more year.
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