Francophone students in Smithers are a step closer to having a school.
The province has approved funding to purchase a site in the town.
“It is so important that families who speak French as a first language have the opportunity to send their children to a francophone school that’s close to home,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education and Child Care.
“I’m pleased to see that a site has been secured in Smithers for the future home of école La Grande-ourse. We are committed to continued work with the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique to ensure that francophone students have access to quality education across B.C.”
The province has provided the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF) with $2.1 million to purchase property for the school in Smithers.
The new site will be located at the southeastern corner of Vancouver Street and 3rd Avenue.
“I am proud of the work we are doing to support Smithers’ francophone students and their families by purchasing a site for the école La Grande-ourse,” said Nathan Cullen, MLA for Stikine.
“Our government is taking significant steps to meet the demand for French-language education in Smithers.”
Since 2017, the province has provided the CSF with $56.8 million for site purchases in Burnaby, Kamloops, Penticton, Victoria, and Pemberton.