Province approves construction of new joint French-language secondary school in Kingston
Kingston will soon be home to a new joint French-language secondary school, the Province of Ontario has announced.
The province has given Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) and Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) approval to proceed with the construction of the new secondary school – A joint school, which will have two locations close together in Kingston’s Trillium District. The two locations will have different names: CECCE’s École secondaire catholique Marie-Rivier will be located at 1381 Demers Avenue (currently a private lane called Entell Lane, which is within the West Village Subdivision adjacent to the RioCan centre), and; CEPEO’s École secondaire publique Mille-Îles will be located at 1290 Wheathill Street (in the same area, closer to Centennial Drive).
In total, $39 million has been invested to provide “a new, quality learning environment for the students of Kingston, as well as new child care rooms,” the province said, noting that the project is part of the province’s capital investment program to “support students with better learning spaces.”
“This new school is in direct response to the needs of Kingston families,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce in a statement. “This investment will provide a quality, French-language learning environment and new opportunities for the local children.”
According to the province, some of the highlights of the new secondary school will include:
- 600 secondary school spaces
- 49 new child care spaces
- Three new child care rooms
“From modernizing our curriculum to revitalizing our classrooms and their facilities, we are investing in our students and giving them every tool to achieve their full potential,” Minister Lecce said. “Our financing of the new joint secondary school further demonstrates our government’s historic investment in Ontario’s schools and our overall commitment to supporting our students and families.”
The investment here in Kingston is part of the $550 million earmarked for new schools, additions, and major renovations in 2020-2021, as announced in the Ontario 2019 budget.