Media Release

City Council says “Oui! Yes! Si!”

The Calgary French School secures land use redesignation required to build new home

Calgary, Alberta – January 22, 2002 – Calgary City Council gave 33 years of French Immersion education a boost last night.

The Calgary French School received Calgary City Council approval to redesignate a 3.7 hectare (9.1 acre) site at 7660 Old Banff Coach Road SW for private school use. “We worked hard to meet the needs of the community in designing the site,” said Ed Romanowski, volunteer Vice President of Facilities for The Calgary French School’s Foundation. “We are grateful for the support received from the community associations and adjacent land owners,” he added. Since 1969, The Calgary French School has been a leader in French Immersion education. As a result of City Council’s approval, the School will proceed to build a new facility and continue its tradition of excellence in education.

The building of a new school coincides with expansion plans of The Calgary French School. Starting in September 2002 at its current site, the School will take the first step toward adding Junior and Senior High School levels by adding Grade 7. Late Spanish Immersion and Late French Immersion education will also be added, as well as the implementation of the Middle Years International Baccalaureate Programme.

“Our students excel in being fully bilingual in Canada’s two official languages,” said Donna Finley, volunteer President of The Calgary French School Foundation. “By adding Spanish, and working on our plans to add more languages such as Chinese, we are preparing our students for success in a global economy,” she added.

The Calgary French School currently makes its home in the community of North Glenmore Park in a school leased from the Calgary Board of Education. The School began looking for a new home when they were notified that its lease from the Calgary Board of Education would be terminated.

The Calgary French School began in 1969, with pre-school classes. Today the independent school provides affordable, research-based French Immersion education for children from pre-school to Grade 6. The expansion to Junior and Senior High and the addition of other languages will begin in September 2002 at the existing School. The School’s new home in the community of Cougar Ridge will open in September 2003. The School is the only French Immersion school in Alberta to be ranked among the top 10 academic schools for the last eight years in provincial achievement tests.

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Ed Romanowski
Volunteer Vice-President, Facilities, The Calgary French School Foundation
Phone: (403) 313-6375
Cell: (403) 819-3055