New elementary school in the Plateau inaugurated

Sophie Demers

 

The area’s newest elementary school is in the French system and inaugurated April 11. École du Grand-Héron is located at 395 Boul. de l'Amérique-Française.
Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of Families and Minister Responsible for the Outaouais Region, Maryse Gaudreault, deputy for Hull, France Bélisle, Mayor of Gatineau, and Nadine Peterson, Director General of the Centre de services scolaire des Portages-de-l’Outaouais (CSSPO), as well as students and staff were present for the event.
“It is with great pride and excitement that we open École du Grand-Héron. Long awaited, this beautiful school meets the needs of the significant population growth of the Plateau sector,” said Nadine Peterson, Executive Director of CSSPO. “Thanks to the sustained efforts of our partners and their staff, our students and staff live in a modern learning and socialisation environment that is adapted to today’s needs. I thank everyone who contributed to this project and the public for their patience.”
The school has a capacity of 744 students and includes four preschool classes for children age 4, four preschool classes for children age 5, three specialised classes and 24 primary level classes. According to CSSPO, the name of the school was chosen because the great heron is present in Gatineau Park and on the Ottawa River. The name also symbolises how students will be able to spread their wings in their new school.
In September 2021, the school originally welcomed the specialised classes of École du Grand-Héron as well as high school students from École secondaire de la Nouvelle-Ère. The high school students have moved to their new school and, in January this year, École du Grand-Héron was able to welcome all their students.
In 2016, the Ministry of Education provided $15,575,608 to build the school and later added $8,449,393 for the addition of kindergarten classes for students aged 4.
Photo: provided by CSSPO
Photo: Elected officials, staff and students at the official inauguration of École du Grand-Héron. From left to write: Caroline Zhang, student, Iyad Bouhali, student, Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of Families and Minister Responsible for the Outaouais Region, Maryse Gaudreault, deputy for Hull, France Bélisle, Mayor of the City of Gatineau, Cimon Châteauvert, Chairman of the Board of Settlement, Adam Gagnon, school director, Nadine Peterson, CSSPO executive director, Justine Le Mao, teacher, Benjamin Tavassoli, student, and Joelle Ayotte, special education technician.