The forthcoming opening of the new French-language Catholic school in Val Thérèse was officially celebrated earlier today (September 25). Dignitaries, students, staff and members of the community gathered to mark the progress of construction and the planned opening of the new school in September 2025. The launch event, held on Franco-Ontarian Day, puts forward the new school's strategic role in promoting French-language Catholic education and Francophone cultures in the communities of Val Thérèse and Hanmer.
The new French-language Catholic elementary school, located on Municipal Road 80 in Val Thérèse, will unite students currently enrolled at École Ste-Thérèse (Val Thérèse), École Notre-Dame (Hanmer), and École St-Joseph (Hanmer). It is intended that students from Kindergarten to grade 8 will start the next school year in the new school. The new school will also include a daycare centre.
This long-awaited project received $22.3 million in funding from the Ontario Ministry of Education.
"As a parent, I know families in growing areas of Ontario need to have access to modern schools close to home in their local community and that's why building more schools is a key part of our Building Ontario plan," said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Education. "Our government is proud to deliver the largest one-year investment in new schools in Ontario history and I'm excited to work with all our partners in education to support these vital infrastructure projects."
"We thank the Ontario Ministry of Education for its support enabling us to move forward with our plans to provide modern learning spaces for our students in Hanmer and Val Thérèse. We are proud that our students will be able to learn and grow in a French-language Catholic school which will bring together the strength, energy and tradition of excellence of the three existing schools," stated Ms. Suzanne Salituri, Chair of CSC Nouvelon.
"The CSC Nouvelon is delighted that our students will soon have access to welcoming learning spaces that will allow them to thrive in an operational and green school designed for the digital era. We remain committed to providing our students and staff with a new school that will live up to their expectations and needs. With the support of our staff and families, we are convinced that our new school will play an important role in promoting the French language and Francophone cultures in Val Thérèse, Hanmer and beyond," explained Mr. Paul Henry, CSC Nouvelon's Director of Education and Secretary-Treasurer.
