The long wait for a new francophone school in Pemberton is almost over.
In its 2024-25 budget, the B.C. government committed $66 million to a new school building for L’Ecole La Vallée, which is scheduled to open in 2027.
“The 220-student capacity school will support existing and forecasted enrolment growth in Pemberton, and will be built with a low-carbon design, mass timber elements, and a neighbourhood learning centre,” reads the project description in the provincial budget.
The long-awaited structure will be located north of Highway 99 before entering the Village of Pemberton, in the Tiyata development.
The Province previously announced $3.2 million for the project in September.
“Pemberton has a thriving francophone community that will benefit from a permanent new school closer to families who need it,” said Rachna Singh, B.C.’s Minister of Education, in a release on Sept. 5. “With funding now in place, we can start developing a modern school that francophone students and their families have been waiting for.”
The parents association (APÉ) was instrumental in getting funding for the new school building. Pemberton French students are currently studying in a variety of buildings in the community, including portables at Signal Hill Elementary.
The temporary buildings previously had problems with mice.
APÉ president, Andrée-Anne Tardif, previously told Pique parents have been pushing for the school for more than a decade.
“Parents have campaigned in Vancouver and lobbied in front of the CSF offices,” she said. “We have constantly been in communication with the CSF to make ourselves seen. We have a very active French community in Pemberton and we don’t have a school building.”
Tardif said the process is extremely exciting.
"The CSF creates a very thorough design committee to launch the architectural process," she said. "Architect, drafters, CSF members, teachers APÉ federation representative, our Lil'wat Nation trustee and our school trustee all come together in these early-stage design meeting to provide comments and ideas in order to have a school that meets the needs of our community."
