The new École Mer et Monde in Halifax will welcome students starting this Friday, September 4.
École Mer et Monde (Province of Nova Scotia)
The new Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) school at 3139 Oxford St. will serve Acadian and francophone students from pre-primary to Grade 9. With capacity for 700 students, the modern school building replaces the previous École Mer et on Atlantic Street and will support the school community for years to come.
"This new school is an important investment in French-language education in Halifax and in the future of the students who will learn here," said Brendan Maguire, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. "Acadian and Francophone students and families deserve welcoming, modern learning environments. École Mer et Monde will be a place where students can learn, grow and build strong connections to their community."
The new school site also includes a child-care centre, a theatre space, radio booth and community centre, all made possible through federal funding.
This fall, an official opening event will be held at École Mer et Monde to celebrate the new school and the students, families, staff and community members who helped make the project possible.
Quotes:
"Our two official languages are at the heart of Canadian identity, and they play a vital role in the vitality of Acadian and francophone communities across the country. In a rapidly changing world, we will keep protecting what is part of our identity, our culture and our history. The new École Mer et Monde will provide students in Halifax with modern, welcoming spaces where they can learn, grow and thrive in French, while strengthening their bond to their community. We are proud to support projects that promote the use of French in everyday life and empower young people to build their future in their own language."
Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
"The new École Mer et Monde reflects the continued growth and vitality of French-language education in Halifax. For our students, having a school where they can learn, connect and experience their language and culture every day is essential to building a strong sense of belonging. Supporting the educational journey of our students on the Halifax Peninsula remains a priority for the CSAP, and this new school represents an important step in that commitment. We are proud to see École Mer et Monde open its doors and excited about the opportunities it will create for students and families for years to come."
Diane Racette, Chair, Conseil scolaire acadien provincial
Quick Facts:
- the school year for most students in the province begins Thursday, September 3, but school staff at École Mer et Monde have an extra day to set up classrooms and familiarize themselves with the new facility
- Nova Scotia's multi-year school capital plan, with more than $1 billion in work, includes building new schools and investing in current schools
- 16 new or replacement schools are currently advancing through the school capital process
- the replacement École Mer et Monde was announced in 2021
- the Atlantic Street location, once home to the Halifax Grammar School, was purchased by the Province in 2021 to avoid disruption to the École Mer et Monde community during new school construction
Additional Resources:
- Nova Scotia School Capital Plan: https://www.ednet.ns.ca/capitalplan
- Conseil scolaire acadien provincial capital projects: https://csap.ca/content_page/projets-de-construction
- École Mer et Monde: https://mer-et-monde.ednet.ns.ca/
