École Rose-des-vents

Vancouver Ouest

École Rose-des-vents was established in 1997 as an annex to École élémentaire Anne-Hébert, in order to divide the Vancouver catchment area in two. At the time, 21 students were enrolled at the school. Over 15 years later, around 350 students are enrolled at the school.

The community at École Rose-des-vents shares a common vision and a common mission. Together, we encourage and develop the best attributes of each individual by favouring respect for self, for others, and for the environment.

CLAIM

The CSF and the Fédération des parents francophones’ claim before the Supreme Court of British Columbia:

Obtain two kindergarten to grade 6 schools, one West of Granville Street and one between Granville Street and Main Street. The space currently occupied by École Rose-des-vents will be transformed into space for the secondary school (Jules-Verne).

Court’s decision

Court’s decision:

Justice Russell confirms that École élémentaire Rose-des-vents is not substantively equivalent to the competing schools of the Vancouver Board of Education. What is more, according to Justice Russell, francophone parents in Vancouver west of Main Street have the right to have their children be educated at the elementary level in French in two catchment areas proposed by the CSF (west of Granville Street, and between Granville Street and Main Street). According to the judge, once a elementary school program for the area west of Granville Street has been established (a program that would likely be established in leased space for approximately 25-45 students) and has grown, parents in Vancouver residing west of Granville Street will have the right to a homogeneous school within this area with facilities that are substantively equivalent to those of the majority.
The implementation of section 23 of the Charter in Vancouver, west of Main Street, will be supported by the order requiring the provincial government to establish a separate long-term funding envelope for the CSF’s capital projects, by the order requiring the provincial government to help the CSF acquire sites to meet the CSF’s needs, and by the order requiring the provincial government to fund the CSF’s leases where a program is offered in leased space. The implementation of section 23 in Vancouver, west of Main Street, may also be aided by the order for damages regarding the decade-long freeze of funding for the CSF’s transportation budget.

Current project

The CSF has confirmed a piece of property on the Health Lands site as a result of successful negotiations with the First Nations group and the CLC. The CSF must now negotiate financial terms for the lease of the property with the same stakeholders. The CSF continues to search for a second site in the catchment area to fill the needs west of Granville Street.

CONTACT