Some people will no doubt scoff or complain that Mayor Nolan Crouse is enthused about finding a site for a francophone high school in St. Albert but there are several reasons why such a school would be a good fit in this city.
Firstly, it would celebrate the city's francophone roots, which date back to its inception as a Catholic mission 150 years ago.
Currently in St. Albert, four per cent of families cite their heritage as French, which is double the provincial average. And as recently as a generation ago it was commonplace to hear French being spoken while out and about in the community.
While some may view this phenomenon as out of place or inappropriate here in English-dominated Alberta, having a diversity of languages being spoken adds an element of character and spice to a community.
Locating a high school here would be a way of further cementing this historic link, which could also open the door to more cultural events and francophone facilities and even provide a shot of economic development if other institutions or businesses follow.
The school site in Kingswood was long thought to be the agreed location for a francophone high school, but the developer, Canterra, refuses to turn over title to the land because it believes a high school would be detrimental to the neighbourhood.
So now Crouse is eager to find another location for a high school. Crouse is so jazzed about celebrating St. Albert’s francophone roots that he delved into his limited French vocabulary at a recent council meeting. At an editorial board meeting with the Gazette this past week, Crouse confirmed his desire to bring a francophone high school to the city.
The local francophone school board, the Greater North Central Francophone Education Region No. 2, has been eyeing St. Albert as its preferred locale for a desired high school for at least six years. The board has been operating a temporary school for more than two years in the basement of the Youville Home senior’s facility. The school, which serves grades seven and up, has outgrown this facility, which was viewed from the outset as a stepping stone to a permanent school.
Feeling that the school board has proven the local demand for francophone education is strong, Crouse and Coun. Cathy Heron believe it stands a good chance of being awarded provincial funding when the next round of school funding is announced.
Those who have lived in the community for a while may remember the uproar that ensued when that same board was awarded funding and a site in Heritage Lakes for a new school. The proposal generated the usual complaints about traffic and noise, but there was also an undercurrent of negativity about the francophone nature of the school. Now that school has been operating for nine years, and is presumably an accepted part of the community.
The opportunity to locate a new francophone high school in St. Albert is one that is there for the taking, but if St. Albert doesn't act, it could lose the opportunity forever.
Finally, as the City of St. Albert searches for and eventually settles on some suitable site for a francophone high school, it must do so with foresight and clarity, so the purpose of the chosen site is clearly communicated to all in the community. That way the city can acquire a valuable asset while avoiding the neighbourhood warfare that often accompanies such endeavours.
