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# Centre scolaire secondaire communautaire Paul-Émile Mercier opens doors to students

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Joint news release with the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon.

The doors of Centre scolaire secondaire communautaire Paul-Émile Mercier (CSSC Mercier) will open to students on November 13, 2020.

Construction of CSSC Mercier, the new French First Language Secondary School Community Centre in Whitehorse, started in spring 2019 and was completed in September 2020. The new school features modernized, flexible learning spaces for French First Language secondary students, including a gymnasium and other spaces for learning and community use.

> This is a major milestone for Yukon’s Francophone community and a testament to the renewed partnership between the Yukon government and the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon. This beautiful new building in Riverdale will contribute to the campus model where communities and cultures can gather, learn and play in a variety of facilities. We look forward to seeing students and community groups benefit from these modern learning and community spaces.

> CSSC Mercier is a great example of our government’s new value-driven procurement process. It creates opportunities for local businesses and improves government spending in the territory. We thank the local contractors for their expertise and work on this fantastic new facility and commend them for completing it ahead of schedule. ​​

> The entry of our students into CSSC Mercier is a historic and exciting moment for the entire Francophone community and for French First Language education programs in the Yukon. The opening of CSSC Mercier demonstrates the respect accorded by the territorial government to our language rights and the provision of an equivalent infrastructure to our students. We thank the Government of Yukon for its commitment and contribution to building CSSC Mercier.

Quick facts

- The name of the school and community centre was officially chosen on May 15, 2020. The name was proposed by Vincent Bélanger as part of a competition launched by the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon (CSFY) with the Francophone community.

- Centre scolaire secondaire communautaire Paul-Émile Mercier (CSSC Mercier) is one significant outcome as a result of agreements between the Government of Yukon and the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon through a joint settlement committee to resolve issues from the 2009 lawsuit.

- The Government of Yukon and the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon have reached an agreement to ensure the three schools on the Riverdale campus work collaboratively to optimize the use of facilities.

- CSSC Mercier was built by Whitehorse-based company Ketza Construction.

Media contact

Matthew Cameron
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7136
matthew.cameron@gov.yk.ca

Maria Paré
Communications, Education
867-332-1506
maria.pare@gov.yk.ca

Maud Caron
Communications, CSFY
867- 667-8680
maud.caron@gov.yk.ca

News release #:
20-331
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Government of Yukon and Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon reach a settle…