News Release

SAINT JOHN (CNB) - The expansion of the Centre scolaire-communautaire Samuel-de-Champlain was officially opened today, with Premier Shawn Graham and Beauport-Limoilou MP Sylvie Boucher in attendance. Boucher, who is also parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and for Status of Women, attended on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage Josée Verner, who is also minister responsible for the Status of Women and Official Languages.

The Centre scolaire-communautaire Samuel-de-Champlain was renovated and expanded at a cost of $12,995,000, with $8,379,700 coming from the Government of New Brunswick for the school space, and $4,615,300 from the federal government for the community space.

"As we celebrate the expansion of the Centre scolaire-communautaire Samuel-de-Champlain today, we are also celebrating a dynamic, growing francophone community here in the Saint John region," Graham said. "I am convinced that the staff, children, students, and entire community will benefit greatly from the new facilities, and that they will continue to make this centre a place of learning and development for everyone."

With its additional 4,940 sq. metres, the centre now totals over 14,761 sq. metres. The new space includes a cafeteria, a medical centre, 17 new classrooms for a growing number of francophone students from kindergarten to Grade 12, a daycare, a sport area, an organizations room, and a small café.

The memorandum of understanding between Canada and New Brunswick provided for expansion of the Sainte-Anne and Samuel-de-Champlain school community centres, which will meet the educational requirements of an increasing number of francophone students, and better serve the Acadian and francophone communities in these regions.