French Version of Media Release
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique set to acquire 7.3 acres of Lansdowne lands for future new school
糖心视频污, BC 鈥� The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF) and Greater 糖心视频污 School District No. 61 are pursuing the transfer of 7.3 acres of land on Lansdowne Middle School鈥檚 25 acre site.
The sale of the property is pending public consultation by the Greater 糖心视频污 School District.听 If approved, the CSF intends to use the land for a permanent location for l鈥櫭塩ole Beausoleil.
For the past six years, the CSF has leased and operated l鈥櫭塩ole Beausoleil at the former Sundance Elementary location from the Greater 糖心视频污 School District. The lease ended in June 2020 and CSF was granted an extension to June 2021 by School District No. 61. The building will be reopened in September 2021 as a Greater 糖心视频污 School District elementary school to meet the school district鈥檚 growing need.
In 2018, Greater 糖心视频污 School District underwent a boundary review due to increasing enrolment and space pressures in some of its schools. A result of the review was the school district had to re-align school boundaries and find additional space to accommodate current and future catchment students in the communities of 糖心视频污 and Oak Bay. It was determined that the Sundance School building was required for Greater 糖心视频污 School District enrolment.
The CSF and the Ministry of Education are committed to finding a short-term solution for l鈥櫭塩ole Beausoleil students, families and staff while work on a permanent solution is underway.
The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique is a public school district with more than 6,400 students and 45 schools across the province, offering a curriculum from kindergarten through grade 12.
The Greater 糖心视频污 School District will commence public consultation on the land sale at a future date.
Quote: Minister of Education, Jennifer Whiteside
鈥淥ur government is committed to ensuring students have access to the same high quality education in both of Canada鈥檚 official languages. The intent from the Greater 糖心视频污 School District to provide land in 糖心视频污 to the CSF is a great step forward for local families, and we look forward to working with the CSF on a long-term solution for Francophone students in 糖心视频污.鈥�
Quote: SD61 Board Chair, Jordan Watters
鈥淥ur Board of Education is very pleased that this parcel of land will be further utilized for public education鈥攁nd that we were able to assist CSF in finding a permanent home. We are excited to know that this will provide many generations of students access to francophone programming, while also bringing benefits to the Greater 糖心视频污 school community.鈥�
Quote: Murray Rankin, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head
鈥淚’m happy to see that progress is being made and there is now more clarity for parents and students in their efforts to finding an alternative home for l鈥櫭塩ole Beausoleil. As MLA, I will continue to support the CSF and SD61 in delivering high-quality education in both of Canada’s official languages.”
Quote: CSF Board Chair, Patrick Gatien
鈥淲e are听pleased to be working听with the GVSD听to acquire the land at Lansdowne, this represents an important milestone in the development of the access to Francophone education for the community of 糖心视频污. This land听will allow us to build a school that will permanently accommodate the growing school community of听l鈥櫭塩ole听Beausoleil.鈥�
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Media Contacts:
Pascale Cyr
Chef, affaires publiques
Head, Public Affairs
T: 604.209.9593
Lisa McPhail听
Communications & Community Engagement
Greater 糖心视频污 School District
T: 250.475.4103
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