École Évangéline has seen better days. The roof of the aging structure in Abram-Village leaks and it’s hard to heat and cool.
Janine Gallant is president of the construction and renovation committee for the school and a trustee on the French language school board. She says a rejuvenation of the building would benefit students and residents.
“It’s not just a school, it’s the community centre, but there’s never been any infrastructure to accommodate the community part,” said Gallant, who led a recent meeting of people concerned about the state of the school.
Built in three pieces between 1966 and 1970, École Évangéline used to hold around 700 students and staff.
These days there are only 250 students, but the school has become the hub for the community in Abram-Village. It also houses the offices of the French language school board.
“It’s kind of a big puzzle in there. They tried to add some offices by cutting into the gym and things like that,” said Gallant. She thinks it may be the oldest school still in use on the Island."
“Some people have the idea that the francophones are never happy, we always want more and better, but that’s not the case. We just want equal. That’s really all we need.”
-Janine Gallant
Her committee has put in a proposal to the province.
They’d like either a new building or to salvage some of the existing school and add on new community facilities.
“There’s leakage every time it rains, so we don’t know what’s in there.” Rainwater comes in the ceiling and runs down the walls, she said.
The heating and cooling systems are dated as well. In the warm months, one side of the building gets really hot. Last year, one student fainted. The other side of the school stays chilly and the kids sometimes wear their jackets inside.
Although the school teaches grades K to 12, the fixtures aren’t designed for teenagers and the gym isn’t big enough to host sports events.
“For the francophone and Acadian community of the Island, it really is the hub. It’s the only region that’s mostly French and the community and school centre is really at the middle of all that,” said Gallant.
Student numbers have remained steady over the last few years, so Gallant’s committee is not looking for an expansion.
“Some people have the idea that the francophones are never happy, we always want more and better, but that’s not the case. We just want equal. That’s really all we need,” she said.
“Something more sustainable, more fiscally responsible and something that’s not going to cost so much to keep up for the next 50 years.”
The rough estimate for a new building is around $20 million, she said.
“It’s a fairly old building,” said French language school board president Emile Gallant.
“It’s a similar situation to the Sherwood School last year. The province announced that they were going to be studying it this year – that’s what we want.”
There’s lots of land around the existing school, so space isn’t an issue, said the board president.
He says the school continues to fall further behind on maintenance.
Janine Gallant and her committee hope a rejuvenated community facility will attract families and encourage French language activities.
“We see it as an opportunity for our children to keep developing their love for their culture through arts and music and things like that.”
“People take for granted that this region is French and it’s going to keep going, but realities are changing here too. If we don’t do something, we’re going to be losing our language in the next couple of generations,” she said.
@AlisonEBC
