On September 3rd , Simon Jolin-Barrette, Minister of Justice and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region was in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield to announce investments of $ 46.5 million in the Montérégie Ouest to carry out two important projects.
The first project is the expansion of École secondaire de la Baie Saint-François. The member for Beauharnois, Mr. Claude Reid, specified that the investment of $ 15 million, announced last year was the first since 1970. “In recent months, the Centre de services scolaires, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, have made an adjustment to meet future needs. It is therefore a bonus of an additional 17 million that is being announced today to complete the school expansion project”, said the MP.
Thus, the project, which will total the sum of $ 32 million, will offer
700 spots for students, the construction of 25 additional classes and the addition of 2 gymnasiums. Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette said that while no timeline has been set yet, the sooner the project gets underway, the better. The director of the Centre de services scolaires added that calls for tenders should be announced during the winter.
Construction of a new school in Les Cèdres
For her part, Marilyne Picard, Member of Parliament for Soulanges, announced the construction of a new primary school with 26 classrooms. “The needs are very great in the Soulanges region, particularly in Les Cèdres where modular classrooms have been set up for several years. Together with the municipality and the management of Centre de services scolaires des Trois-Lacs, stakeholders are currently studying all the possibilities to adequately meet the urgent needs of the region.”
Asked whether land was considered for the construction of the new school, considering the fact that the majority of available spaces in the municipality are zoned agricultural, Mrs. Picard replied that discussions were currently underway between the municipality and the Centre de services scolaires des Trois-Lacs in order to assess the possibilities. It should be noted that the school infrastructure work will now have to be carried out in accordance with the new government vision for the construction, expansion and renovation of schools. With a view to the integration into the community and sustainable development, the new generation of schools will be adapted to new teaching methods. Common spaces will promote socialization and a sense of belonging among students. The new schools will also feature a whole new architectural identity highlighting accents of blue and materials from Quebec, mainly wood and aluminum.
