Designing the schools of the future with Lab-École

Québec City, June 5, 2018 – Today, seven projects selected for Lab-École were unveiled: three construction projects, three expansions and one transformation, valued at a total of $60 million. In practical terms, school boards and school teams will be able to benefit from Lab-École’s help and support throughout their project’s development, from the drawing of the blueprints to the construction up until the school’s opening. Lab-École will also assess each project’s impact once completed.

Launched last November, Lab-École is an innovative project that aims to make Québec public schools a source of pride and, above all, a place where students can develop to their full potential. In addition to offering a physical environment that promotes students’ educational success, these schools will become the model schools of the 21^st century. They will be real living environments that will give children a thirst to learn and teachers to teach. Innovation, accessibility, adaptability, collaboration, sustainability and inclusivity are the values that guide the project.

Quotes:

Education is the key to building a new Québec that is strong, prosperous and open to the world. It is the key to our children making their dreams and ambitions come true. Just like our society, our education system must adapt to the changes that come with every generation. It is our collective duty to consider what needs to be done and to make improvements so that every child can flourish. Today, we are announcing the projects that will turn our schools into truly modern and stimulating environments that will inspire them to learn. Together, we have given ourselves the means to invest in our top priority, which is education. Together, we are innovating to lead our education system into the 21^st century.

– Philippe Couillard, Premier of Québec

Today’s announcement confirms our commitment to providing Québec with the most attractive and innovative schools.  We must make every effort to modernize our institutions and our methods. Lab-École is one of the tools that will help us build the schools of the 21^st century. Choosing these seven projects is a step forward, reflecting the considerable efforts made by many people from all walks of life who are committed to seeing our young people succeed.

– Sébastien Proulx, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region

I am pleased on behalf of the families and the children of my riding, particularly those who will walk the halls of these new schools, which I am sure will be modern and welcoming. This project meets a pressing need and will certainly contribute to keeping our children in the classroom.

– André Drolet, MNA for Jean-Lesage

Key points

• The Lab-École project unveiled last year is part of the Policy on Educational Success, which offers a shared and innovative vision to create an inclusive environment conducive to growing, learning and succeeding.
• The projects have three components, overseen by each of the three founders. The physical environment component will be handled by Pierre Thibault, healthy living by Pierre Lavoie and nutrition by Ricardo Larrivée.

Appendix: School boards that will participate in Lab-École and the chosen projects

CS de la Capitale
Québec City
Rehabilitation of the site of the former École primaire Stadacona and expansion to make an elementary school in Québec City
$7.5 million

CS des Phares
Bas-Saint-Laurent
Construction of an elementary school in Rimouski
$17.9 million

CS du Val-des-Cerfs
Estrie
Construction of an elementary school in the eastern part of Granby
$3.2 million

CS de Montréal
Montréal
Construction of an elementary school at the Concordia University Grey Nuns Building site in Montréal
$4 million**

CS du Chemin-du-Roy
Mauricie
Expansion of École primaire Saint-Joseph in Maskinongé
$6.4 million

Western Québec School Board
Outaouais
Expansion of École primaire Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau in Gatineau
$7.6 million

CS des Rives-du-Saguenay
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Transformation of spaces at École Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry in Saguenay
$3 million

** Amount reserved for the study of the project, which will fall under the Québec Infrastructure Plan (QIP) as a “project under study.”