Ecole Decharme celebrated its official grand opening Wednesday afternoon in Moose Jaw. The new school is our only all francophone facility in the city.

 

You might remember the Canada-Saskatchewan Auxiliary Agreement to construct and renovate the former Alexandra School. The program was set in motion in March of 2005 with our province putting $3.6 million into the hat followed by the Government of Canada investing $1.2 million. Well the project it was designed for was official opened Wednesday afternoon in Moose Jaw.

Several members of Moose Jaw's francophone community attended the grand opening of Ecole Decharme Wednesday. Our new school can accommodate 120 students from pre-kindergarten right through to grade 12.

Louise Fafard is the Principal of the new school and is proud of their new accommodations. "Ecole Decharme used to be Ecole Francesquois de Moose Jaw. This is our 9th year in operation and our first year in our new school. Our students will graduate bilingual in both English and French."

Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA and Minister of Learning Deb Higgins was on hand for the ceremony and says it's nice that the parents and students finally have more space to learn and a school of their own to do it in. "The had space in one of the wings of a public school... but it was cramped and they really wanted and needed a home of their own. I think all of us in Saskatchewan would recognize the francophone community and what it brings to our culture, what it brings to our heritage, and to be able to have a base for that in the city of Moose Jaw is absolutely wonderful."