Media Release

International Doors Opening for Calgary Students
Vision of local school recognized by community leaders and politicians at official opening

Calgary, Alberta – November 4, 2003 – As a result of the tremendous efforts of the parents, staff, students and community partners, Calgary French & International School celebrates the official opening of its brand new facility on Friday, November 7, 2003 at 2:30pm.

Premier Klein, Dr. Lyle Oberg (Minister of Learning), Karen Kryczka (MLA), Deputy Mayor Alderman Craig Burrows and many community partners will participate in the ceremony to herald the official debut of the new facility. The recently-completed building, located at the corner of Old Banff Coach Rd. and 77th Street SW, houses one of the oldest independent schools in Calgary. Pioneers of French Immersion Education, Calgary French & International School introduced its program 34 years ago – even before the Royal Commission on Bilingualism was launched.

Calgary French & International School is an independent, accredited, not-for-profit school that prides itself on high quality education at an affordable tuition. It is ‘home’ to over 450 students from Preschool to Grade 8 and is expanding its tradition of educational excellence to include Junior and Senior High. Over the next four years, the school will continue to grow to include Grades 9 through 12 and offer Middle and Late French Immersion and Late Spanish Immersion.

The school, designed by SSE Architects, includes many features that allow students, teachers and parents to enjoy a real sense of community within its walls, while at the same time, bring the community within. Many of its facilities, including gymnasium, meeting rooms and playgrounds will be shared with the adjoining neighbors in Cougar Ridge and West Springs. With state-of-the-art curricular labs and partnerships with University of Calgary’s Language Resource Center and SAIT, Calgary French & International School is poised to take the lead as a center of excellence in language education.

Construction of its new $12 million campus was initiated several years ago when its lease of the Lakeview Elementary School was scheduled for termination. Project Manager and parent Ed Romanowski, as well as Stuart Olson Construction, worked alongside a number of parent volunteers to ensure that the school was completed on time and on budget.

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Darren Forrester
Principal, Calgary French & International School
(403) 240-1500
d.forrester@cfs.calgary.ab.ca

Donna Finley
President and CEO, Calgary French & International School
(403) 815-7981
dfinley@framework-partners.com

Ed Romanowski
VP Facilities, Calgary International Language Foundation
(403) 256-9452
ed@bellstar.ca