148 schoolyards to be embellished throughout the province

Schoolyard beautification for summer 2018

Québec City, April 13, 2018. – Financial assistance of nearly $3 million will fund 148 schoolyard beautification projects throughout the province in the summer of 2018. All the projects submitted by 54 school boards were approved.

Sébastien Proulx, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale region, made the announcement today during his visit to the École Saint-Philippe in Trois-Rivières, which will receive $25,000 for greening and the installation of play structures and outside furniture. For the occasion, Minister Proulx was accompanied by Julie Boulet, Minister of Tourism, Minister responsible for the Mauricie region and Member for Laviolette, and Jean-Denis Girard, Member for Trois-Rivières.

For the Mauricie region, in addition to École Saint-Philippe, the Commission scolaire du Chemin-du-Roy will receive financial assistance for École Rinfret. For its part, the Commission scolaire de l’Énergie’s École Notre-Dame-de-la-Joie can also count on financial assistance to embellish its schoolyard.

It should be noted that this financial aid is granted under the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement Supérieur’s measure to embellish schoolyards in the year 2017-2018. This measure finances various development projects that school boards are implementing in partnership with the community in order to offer students a stimulating and safe environment conducive to physical activity.

Quotes:

Since my arrival, the educational success of all students has dictated all our actions. We announced unprecedented investments for Québec schools earlier in January. This year, we have invested more than $1.6 billion in our school infrastructure. Our desire is clear: to provide our youth with safe, stimulating and attractive spaces. If this goes for school buildings, it also applies to schoolyards. These are crucial places where students have fun and get moving by practicing various sports and physical activities. Through this funding, we are ensuring that they can do so safely, with quality infrastructure.

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

This announcement to beautify our province’s schoolyards, including those of the Mauricie region, is great news. Thousands of students will be lucky enough to have access to new or freshly renovated facilities. It is obvious that quality infrastructure will give our youth the desire to practice sports and physical activities. This investment will undoubtedly promote their educational success. As Minister responsible for the region, I am particularly pleased.

– Julie Boulet, Minister of Tourism, Minister responsible for the Mauricie region and Member for Laviolette 

As MNA for Trois-Rivières, I am very pleased with this announcement in my constituency. All residents of the area will benefit from the new infrastructure at École Saint-Philippe. It is certain that this investment will encourage our young people to be active and spend energy to thus be more focused in class. Our government has once again shown how much it cares about providing our young people with the best possible learning environments.

– Jean-Denis Girard, Member for Trois-Rivières

Many young people from Maskinongé will be able to enjoy new schoolyard where they can play and get moving. In our regions, schools are essential to the vitality of our communities, and participation in sports or recreational activities strengthens the feeling of belonging. I am pleased that our government has the means to promote the educational success of students by creating safe and attractive spaces.

– Marc H. Plante, Member for Maskinongé and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier for the Regions

Key points:

• For the 2017-2018 school year only, today’s announcement brings the amount invested to $1.6 billion to renovate, build and enlarge Québec schools.
• Since 2016, nearly $3.6 billion has been invested in school infrastructures in Québec, especially for adding space, maintaining buildings and eliminating maintenance deficits.
• Close to 2,200 school projects have been supported since 2005 thanks to the financial assistance provided under the measure to embellish schoolyards.