All flu assessment centres in Ottawa have now closed
Posted Nov 27, 2009 By Sarah Kelford
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EMC News - Francophone families living in the Kanata South neighbourhood will have the option of enrolling their children in a French language school with the opening of the new public elementary school in September 2010.
Sarah Kelford, Kanata EMC
Doug Rainer, Architect - Civitas Architecture, Jacques Rollin - École élémentaire publique Kanata School Council Chair, François Benoit - CEPEO Director of Education, Georges Orfali - CEPEO Board Chair, Bernard Bareilhe - CEPEO Board Trustee, Édith Dumont - CEPEO Superintendent of Education, Pierre Maheu - CEPEO Board Trustee as well as students representing the school community of École élémentaire publique Kanata.
The official, symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the new École élémentaire publique Kanata-Sud took place on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at the construction site (17 Bridgestone Dr.) with staff from the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (cepeo), students and staff from École élémentaire publique Kanata and residents of the community taking part.
Absent from the event was Kanata South Councillor Peggy Feltmate, who said she was unable to make it due to scheduling conflict.
"I am looking forward to the building of the new school," said Feltmate, who initiated contact with the school board in September to ensure she saw the school and site plans and welcomed them to Kanata South.
"I was very sorry not to be there, but I had already committed to be at another meeting when I received the invitation," she added. "I am pleased that Kanata South was chosen as the site for a new French public school. It will provide neighbourhood schooling for many children in our growing French population."
The new French facility will provide education to a maximum 300 students from junior kindergarten to grade 8.
The $4.96-million project will occupy a 13-acre lot and include numerous classrooms, a gymnasium, a library, a computer lab, as well as space for childcare and before and after school services. The building will also be designed to support the possible addition of a future secondary school.
"The construction of a new French language public elementary school in this area will alleviate overcrowding in École élémentaire publique Kanata while responding to an increase in demand from parents wishing to enroll their children in our board," said cepeo chair Georges Orfali. "Our board's growth unquestionably demonstrates that French language public education has strong roots in the community."
During the ceremony, Jacques Rollin, the École élémentaire publique Kanata school council chair, spoke to the crowd about his hopes for the future of French language education.
"Today, francophone families in Kanata are proud to stand side by side with their partners to celebrate this important achievement as well as to say thank you... Our great hope is that Dalton McGuinty (Ontario Premier) and Kathleen Wynne (Minister of Education) will not stop here. Our francophone kids in Kanata need a French language high school to further pursue their rightful education in French.
Rollin then presented to large banners with the signatures of over 525 names of students and parents. The banners are petitions to be sent to the province to demonstrate the need of French language schooling right through to the high school levels.
"On behalf of my colleagues and the staff of our board, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to making this event possible," said Orfali during his speech. "Thanks to both the city of Ottawa and the government of Ontario. And, to the Ministry of Education, we extend our deepest gratitude. A sincere thank you must also be given to our school community. The community has shown great perseverance and a profound belief in this project and it is for the community that we have worked so hard to achieve this goal of building a new French language public elementary school in Kanata."
Following the groundbreaking, the students proudly sang "Notre Place" under the direction of Lise Maisonneuve. Officials said that construction will begin in the upcoming months with students being welcomed in the next school year.
Visit www.kanatasud.cepeo.on.ca for construction updates and more information.
