Conseil scolaire Viamonde is pleased to announce that it has received $12.9 million from the Ministry of Education for a new building in Oakville for École secondaire Gaétan-Gervais, which will be a new French-language middle and secondary school. The provincial investment in the Conseil scolaire Viamonde school board will provide improved facilities and enhanced learning opportunities for 392 students in Oakville in grades 7 to 12.
"Our government continues to support local students with significant investments in better schools for better learning. This is an important investment into French-language education for Oakville students and their families," stated Kevin Flynn, MPP for Oakville at today's announcement.
The new school will be located at 1055 McCraney Street East. Thanks to a partnership with Halton District School Board and the City of Oakville, the students and staff will have access to soccer pitches, baseball diamonds, and a 100-metre track. This is especially important as École secondaire Gaétan-Gervais offers a Specialist High Skills Major in Sports. This project will involve replacing a 62-year-old school.
The plans for the new school, prepared by Robertson Simmons Architects, can be viewed on the school’s website.
This announcement was very welcome for students and parents who have been waiting patiently since 2012 when École secondaire Gaétan-Gervais first opened. The school has been sharing space with École élémentaire Du Chêne, located at 150 Ridge Drive in Oakville. Over the years, there have been letters and petitions in support of a new school. The most recent campaign, in late 2014, was waged by the Grade 8 students at École secondaire Gaétan-Gervais. They wrote to the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, explaining why they needed a new secondary school in order to pursue their education in French. They specifically asked for an age-appropriate library, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, more spacious change rooms, and specialized classrooms.
The Viamonde school board, students, parents, and community are thrilled that their voices have been heard. The Board thanks the Ministry of Education for approving this project. It also thanks Viamonde’s students and parents for getting behind this project for a new French-language public secondary school in Halton Region. The school will open in September 2017.
Conseil scolaire Viamonde spans a vast area from Windsor east to Trenton and from Penetanguishene south to the Niagara Region. Approximately 11,000 students attend its 47 French-language schools, where success is expressed in French. For news of the Board and our schools, visit our Facebook page or our Twitter account @CSViamonde.