Minister of Education Bernard Drainville was in Vaudreuil-Soulanges on Monday to officially inaugurate two new high schools in the area.

The Minister's first stop was École secondaire des Navigateurs in Saint-Zotique. He was accompanied by Chantal Beausoleil, Executive Director of the Centre de services scolaires des Trois-Lacs, Yvon Chiasson, Mayor of Saint-Zotique, Patrick Maisonneuve, Principal of the school, and Marilyne Picard, Member of the National Assembly for Soulanges.

In the afternoon, the Minister travelled to Vaudreuil-Dorion to inaugurate École secondaire des Échos. The delegation was joined by Vaudreuil MNA Marie-Claude Nichols, members of the Vaudreuil-Dorion municipal council, school principal Jean-François Drouin and mayor Guy Pilon.

Both Saint-Zotique and Vaudreuil-Dorion events were hosted by students.

"The arrival of a new school in a community is always a unifying event. It's such an important and symbolic gathering place, first and foremost for our young people, who spend a lot of time there learning and developing their responsibilities. For all staff members, a school is certainly a stimulating and pleasant place to work... The new schools springing up all over Quebec are something to be proud of. They are big, bright, warm and perfectly adapted to today's educational context. I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this major project for our community," said Soulanges MNA Marilyne Picard.

For his part, Patrick Maisonneuve, principal of Saint-Zotique high school, thanked all the school's staff. "It's not always easy to arrive at a new school, because everything has to be done. There are a lot of challenges to overcome, and you've managed to do it. Together, we're sailing towards success. That's why the school is called Des Navigateurs.

Bright, evolving spaces

The new school construction concept adopted by Quebec City emphasizes the use of noble materials such as natural wood, aluminum and glass, as well as natural light through extensive fenestration. It also calls for flexible, scalable teaching spaces.

Minister Drainville took advantage of the opportunity to praise the facilities, which are among the first so-called new-generation schools.

"Beyond the physical beauty, this is a school that allows us to go further in the mission of the school, including the transmission of knowledge, academic success and everything else... We're proud to put money into new schools... Bravo and thank you to the staff in particular. Now that we have a beautiful school, we have to make sure that the students who live there, for whom it's a living environment, succeed as much as possible. I have confidence in you, dear school staff," said Minister Drainville.

In addition to common areas, classrooms and laboratories, the two new schools feature two double gymnasiums and an auditorium that can accommodate up to 400 people.

At the inauguration, Vaudreuil-Dorion mayor Guy Pilon recalled the major investments made by the city, including in the auditorium at École secondaire des Échos. "The city has invested nearly $1 million to improve the auditorium and exterior. We already have an agreement with the school to occupy the land, to the tune of $1.3 million," he emphasized.

The importance of community

Speaking at École secondaire des Échos, Chantal Beausoleil, General Manager of the Centre de services scolaires des Trois-Lacs (CSSTL), emphasized the link between the region's history and that of education in Quebec, recalling that the province's first polyvalente, Cité-des-Jeunes, opened its doors in Vaudreuil-Dorion 60 years ago. "A model we owe to the builder of education in Quebec, Paul-Gérin-Lajoie. I don't think I'm wrong in saying that our region is fertile ground for education.

Ms. Beausoleil also praised the work of the school teams and the involvement of all staff members, both in Vaudreuil-Dorion and Saint-Zotique.

"To keep a school going after it's built, we need a multitude of people. Thank you to the staff members who make our schools lively and interesting for our young people. Your contribution is essential in shaping the citizens of tomorrow. Thank you to the students who, on a daily basis, inspire us all to excel. I hope you are taking full advantage of the facilities offered by your schools," she added.

Invited to speak, Vaudreuil MNA Marie-Claude Nichols said she was honored to take part in the inauguration of École secondaire des Échos. She also congratulated Jacob Benoit, a Vaudreuil-Dorion resident who gave the school its name.

"I'd like to highlight the contribution of a Vaudreuil-Dorion citizen to the school's name. A contest was launched to find a name for the school, and Mr. Benoit won with the name Les Echos. It was inspired by the weekly newspaper created in the 1950s by Paul-Gérin-Lajoie, L'Écho de Vaudreuil-Soulanges et Jacques-Cartier. The name also refers to the title of a song by Félix-Leclerc. I thought it was a great combination, and we should echo it, because it's a great story.

Ms. Nichols also addressed the students present at the inauguration, as well as the staff and parents. "To the students present, this is your school. It's a place where you can nurture your talents, pursue your passions and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. Make the most of every moment you spend here to learn, grow and flourish. To all parents, teachers and guardians, I invite you to be active partners in your children's educational journey. You know that your support and commitment are essential to the success of these children, because together, we form a strong and committed educational community," she added.

Finally, Vaudreuil-Dorion school principal Jean-François Drouin emphasized: "A school is a mini-society. We are called upon to collaborate with different people, each of whom brings his or her own particular touch to the task, which makes for a rich variety of interventions for the students. I can't say enough about an extraordinary school team. I'm very proud to see our school develop thanks to all these people.