Though students had been attending classes there since Jan. 4, École La Voie du Nord hosted its official grand opening Jan. 11, opening its doors to parents, official representatives and the general public to tour the new facilities.
Among those present were Minister of Education James Allum, Thompson MLA and Minister of Transportation Steve Ashton, Churchill Keewatinook-Aski MP Niki Ashton, and Mayor Dennis Fenske. Also present were several representatives from the Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine, including DSFM general director Alain Laberge, his predecessor Denis Ferré, north and western region director Bernard Lesage, and the school’s former principal, Roger Gagnon, among others.
For many, the presentation was unique in Thompson: mainly, the majority of the presentation was in French. Nonetheless, La Voie de Nord’s principal Daniel Couture offered heartfelt thanks for the English-speaking parents who did choose to attend: “I commend you for being here. If you’re at this opening, and you don’t speak French, it’s a very powerful message for your children; it shows that you really want to support them 100 per cent.”
The DFSM’s Lesage thanked local government officials for their efforts in making the project a reality, as well as the School District of Mystery Lake, who helped find a place for the school within the Burntwood Elementary School building: “Overthe past few years, the government of the day has really helped with the evolution of the DSFM. To the School Division of Mystery Lake, we truly appreciate you sharing spaces with us over these many years. It was very helpful with us to start off our program in French, and the shared spaces you offered us were truly appreciated.”
Allum and Steve Ashton, both of whom raised their children to speak multiple languages, French or otherwise, were present to express their congratulations to the school. Allum spoke to the indispensible role French has played in the opportunities his own children have gained from the experience: “All three of my kids were educated in French, by virtue of being able to speak French, the world has opened up to them. They have the ability to do many, many more things by being able to communicate in French. And that, my friends, is the future that awaits all of you children. It’s an honour to be here in a school with such energy, such vibrancy, and such beautiful surroundings, that’s so energy efficient and sustainable for future generations to come, and not just for you folks in front of me, but a childcare centre as well. Everyone in the community has a stake here.”
Steve Ashton echoed his sentiment, and emphasized the contribution a French-language school makes to the cultural diversity within the community: “This is a very important day for Thompson; we have 60 years as a community, and thousands of years of aboriginal history. Today, the message we send with the opening of this school, we send a very clear message: while we don’t have a historically French population in Thompson, the French language is also alive and well in Northern Manitoba.”
Fenske presented a certificate of appreciation to the school, and emphasized the role La Voie de Nord will play in ensuring the continuing relevance of Thompson as a northern centre for excellence: “We’ve had growth at the University College of the North, with the announcement of the industrial trades centre; with this, we add to the pillar of education in this community, one that we will grow on, as pillars of education, health, government services, and industry, to ensure that our community is sustainable for many years to come, and that all of these kids have a future in the north, as we have had.”
