Despite a touch of rain, a groundbreaking ceremony was a well-attended affair in Espanola. Ecole Ste. Joseph hosted the ceremony with some 150 people in attendance yesterday for the official launch of construction of the new double school.
Students, parents, staff, supporters, board members and elected officials all gathered together to host a Blessing of the Land ceremony and to pose with shovels in the ground. The project will house Ecole Ste. Joseph and Ecole Franco-Ouest as one school, from JK to Grade 12, and Sacred Heart elementary, and barring any delays, is to open its doors for September 2020.
The new building, which will be located on the current Sacred Heart School and former St-Louis de France Catholic Church properties, will house a French-language school (kindergarten to grade 12) operated by the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) and an English-language school (kindergarten to grade 8) operated by the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (HSCDSB). The shared site, with its two distinct schools, will welcome students from Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School, École Saint-Joseph and École secondaire catholique Franco-Ouest in two years time. The site will also include 50 daycare spaces in each school.
This $25.2 million project, funded by the Ministry of Education, is the result of a request made by the Ministry of Education to the school boards in Espanola to work together in addressing student accommodation needs in the area. The goal here is to maximize the use of space while ensuring that all students continue to have access to the best programming possible in quality school facilities.
“The joint project will enhance Catholic education in Espanola while ensuring that linguistic differences are respected,” said André Bidal, President of the CSCNO. “We are happy to see it come to fruition and excited to welcome all of our Francophone students, from kindergarten to grade 12, in a single institution of learning where they can study and grow together.”
“This is great news for our students, our staff and the community of Espanola at large. The new facility will enhance the learning experience for all students, both English and French,” added John Caputo, Chair of the HSCDSB.