ABRAM-VILLAGE, P.E.I. — Francophone education proponents in Prince County are celebrating Friday’s, Oct. 20, provincial capital budget, which announced $16.6 million for the replacement of École Évangéline.
Premier Dennis King had announced $8.8 million in funding for the project in 2019, however, community members working on the file said that amount limited the scope of any new facility.
The $16.6 million total is a much more viable budget for this project, said Debbie Montgomery, president of the Evangeline School-Community Council.
"This is a very significant moment in the history of our Acadian and Francophone community,” said Montgomery, in a press release translated from French to English. “This institution represents the vitality and strength of the French language and Acadian culture for our Évangéline region. We look forward to the planning phase of this construction now."
A lot of community members have been working hard on this project for more than two years, added Paulette LeBlanc, principal of École Évangéline.
"It is reassuring to know that we will be able to continue to promote education in French in the Evangeline region for the next generations with an adequate infrastructure for our students. "
The province also indicated that negotiations with the federal government for additional public funding is ongoing and a further pertinent announcement should be made sometime in early 2021.
