Tucked onto the same campus as Sechelt Elementary School is another school, one with a big distinction.
École du Pacifique is a uniquely francophone school that differs from what many know as French immersion education.
"The goal is to follow the heritage of francophones. French immersion is largely the study of French [language], not the culture," said principal Caroline Picard.
École du Pacifique is part of School District No. 93 (SD93) or Conseil Scolaire Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique, which encompasses more than 40 schools with 4,100 students in 78 communities across the province. In Sechelt, there are 97 children at the elementary school and another 40 at Chatelech Secondary School that integrates francophone students into its regular programming. Those teens wishing to do more core courses with francophone educators can access online learning forums.Picard said French schooling began in Sechelt in 1989 before SD93 was created in 1995. In 1996, the program at Chatelech started to accommodate high school students' needs.
"There is a lot of history, 400 to 500 years the francophones have fought their whole lives and kept that going. [Culture] is so deep inside and it's emotional. We have fought for so long to preserve it," Picard said. "Will they have that feeling and emotion in 10 years from now?" she asked herself about students raised in the West with no direct connection to a majority francophone community. You'll never get the cultural connection here, but you understand it [because of the education] when you go back East."
Students are offered any number of cultural events and activities throughout the year and their 12 grades of education, as well as special guests brought in to teach about foods, music and historical celebrations unique to francophone life. Travel to other francophone communities across Canada including Quebec and France are optional and students graduate twice: a special ceremony is held annually at the University of British Columbia for all SD93 youths in addition to their local district celebration.
The brochure for the school reads: "Section 23 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms grants all Canadian citizens and landed immigrants residing in British Columbia the right to educate their children in a francophone program if they meet one of the following conditions. The first language learned and still understood is French, they received their primary school instruction in Canada in French, they have a child who has received primary or secondary school instruction in Canada in French or they have a child who is receiving primary or secondary school instruction in Canada in French." French immersion education is excluded. The key component is preserving the francophone culture.
The curriculum is the same as any School District No. 46 school, but delivered en français and with cultural styles that may differ from Anglo-schools.
Francophone families interested in enrolling their children at École du Pacifique or École Chatelech can contact Picard at 604-885-4743.
