The Alberta government has announced funding for the pre-planning of 20 new potential francophone schools province-wide, four of which are set for Calgary.
The announced $2 million is being distributed amongst the four francophone school boards in Alberta, with the 20 schools to be divided across the province’s cities.
According to a province-issued press release, between the 2021-22 and 2024-25 school years, francophone school enrolment grew from 8,763 students to 9,838, a 12 per cent increase.
In Budget 2025, the Government increased the Francophone Equivalency Grant, designated funding for the province’s Francophone school districts, by 25 per cent, from $8.5 million in the 2024-25 school year to $10.6 million in the 2025-26 school year.
In a statement, Alberta’s Minister of Education and Childcare, Demetrios Nicolaides, said the investment is a crucial starting point for new school developments and will help francophone students continue to thrive.
This is the third time in 2025 the government has provided pre-planning funding to Alberta school jurisdictions, with $1.1 million for 24 potential future school projects announced in April and $610,000 for 13 potential future school projects announced in July.
Currently, there are 13 francophone school projects underway in Alberta, six renovations or replacement schools and seven new or additional school projects.
Martin Long, Minister of Infrastructure, said the government’s investment in early planning will yield meaningful results.
“The Alberta government’s investment allows planning to start early so students get the schools they need, close to home. By investing $2 million in pre-planning, francophone authorities can fast-track identifying sites and engaging communities to construct modern learning spaces for future student needs,” he said in the release.
Throughout the pre-planning process, school boards lay out their school-building priorities and submit their school projects to the province. Pre-planning is not a guarantee that any given project will be built.
Gregory van Duyse, chair, Conseil Scolaire FrancoSud, said that the investment has sent a clear message that Alberta’s francophone communities and students matter.
“Pre-planning funding may be an early step in the process, but it is a crucial one that allows us to move forward strategically, collaboratively and with confidence. These funds will help ensure that new schools are not only built where they are needed most, but that they truly reflect the cultural, linguistic and learning needs of our students,” he said in the statement.
“We thank the Government of Alberta for this support and look forward to continuing this important work together.”
