On Monday morning, students and graduates assembled outside the bilingual FACE school, where they sang songs and chanted slogans as part of their demonstration against Quebec’s policies. choice to abandon the intended refurbishment of the historic downtown Montreal building.
“A protest banner declared, ‘Our school cannot be bought.’”
The demonstration followed after Education Minister Bernard Drainville decided to scrap a plan due to escalating costs. The initiative was originally estimated at $150 million but has surged up to $375 million for restoration work — marking a significant hike of 150 per cent from the starting point.
The government intends to sell the current structure and transfer students to two newly established schools; elementary school students will be moved to a facility located at 4835 Christophe-Colomb Avenue, whereas secondary school students will go to one situated at 4251 St-Urbain Street. According to data supplied by Drainville’s team, the cost of refurbishments needed for these two institutions would amount to approximately $200 million.
Julien Deschenes, who completed his studies in 2010, expressed his disappointment at the idea of splitting the student body between two schools.
"By keeping everybody under one roof, people remain in close proximity," he explained.
With a student body of about 1,400, FACE school is run as two schools overseen by both the Centre de services scolaire de Montréal (CSSM) and the English Montreal School Board (EMSB). It serves both francophone and anglophone students.
The establishment focuses on fine arts, where students engage in music, theater, visual arts, and dance.
The narrative of this piece will be expanded upon later.