Halifax resident Jonathan Langdon is facing a familiar dilemma as history appears to be repeating itself in his family. Three years back, Langdon’s daughter, then a Grade 9 student at École Mer et Monde, a French school in south-end Halifax, had to decide between enduring a lengthy daily school bus commute to École secondaire Mosaïque in Burnside, N.S., or opting for French immersion at Citadel High in Halifax, where only some of the education would be in French.
Now, Langdon’s son, also in Grade 9, is confronted with the same predicament. Concerned about the traffic congestion and long bus rides to Mosaïque, Langdon emphasized the significant impact of transportation logistics on their decision-making process.
According to Michel Collette, head of Nova Scotia’s francophone school board, geographical constraints are hindering some students from accessing French education, with some students facing daily round trips of hundreds of kilometers to reach the nearest French school. In Halifax, students are also being affected by time-consuming commutes to French high schools due to the lack of a French high school on the peninsula without definite plans for one.
The closest French high schools to Halifax currently are Mosaïque and École secondaire du Sommet in Bedford, N.S., hosting 362 and 310 high school students, respectively. Although a French school is under construction in Halifax, set to open in 2026 for up to Grade 9, plans for a Conseil scolaire acadien provincial high school on the peninsula remain undecided.
Angela Day, a parent with children at Mer et Monde, stressed the importance of French education for her family. Considering the transportation challenges, she emphasized the need for a French high school in peninsular Halifax to ensure continuity in her children’s French education trajectory.
Day highlighted the potential benefits of renovating Mer et Monde for high school education, citing its accessibility via public transit and proximity to universities. With a growing population and increasing enrollment in the CSAP system, Day advocated for prioritizing space and infrastructure for a French high school in peninsular Halifax to create inclusive communities.
As the community continues to grapple with the lack of a French high school on the peninsula, families like Langdon’s and Day’s are left navigating complex decisions to ensure their children receive quality French education.