New French-language educational centre opens

BY MARC LALONDE

marc.lalonde@transcontinental.ca

The Commission scolaire Margeuerite Bourgeoys officially opened the first French-language tripartisan career centre in Kirkland last week, ushering a new era of vocational education in the West Island, a spokesman for the board said.

“It really is a significant step in terms of French-language career education in the West Island,� said Marguerite Bourgeoys spokesman Annie Favreau.

The Jacques Mongeau Centre, on St. Charles Boulevard in Kirkland, is a new CSMB career centre that also boasts CEGEP professional-diploma classes (in association with College Gerald-Godin in Ste. Geneviève) and university classes (in association with UQAM).

“A student could conceivably begin their post-secondary career education here, continue through university and never leave the building. It’s possible,� Favreau said.

The centre’s inauguration opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for francophones and immigrants, Favreau said.

“An immigrant could move here, and learn French in our classes, and continue on and earn a degree in health technology after completing his or her (equivalency) course,� Favreau said.

The centre, named after longtime educator Jacques Mongeau offers adult-education courses, professional training in accounting, small-business launches and management, clerking and legal clerking. It works with area businesses in training and placing students during and after their education, through the Commission scolaire Margeuerite Bourgeoys. In addition, the board recently launched three new health courses at the centre. The new courses all relate to providing health care at home or in the hospital for elderly or chronically-ill patients. College Gérald-Godin offers courses in pharmacology and pharmaceutical technology, and UQAM offers certificates in communication, education, management and a French grammar course in Kirkland.

Marguerite-Bourgeoys school board chairman Diane Lamarche-Venne said the school board’s vision of an integrated adult-education centre has come true.

“By increasing our services to the community, the Marguerite Bourgeoys school board is working toward our big contemporary dream of making education a catalyst in the community socioeconomic development,� she said, adding the increased level of partnership allows for more versatility of teaching and human resources.

“The notion of community partnerships in teaching, complimentarity of services and the development of services that are priorities to the community is at the heart of the Minister of Education’s reforms and priorities. These concepts will be of the utmost importance in our new facility,� she said.

For more information on the Jacques Mongeau Centre, call 514-855-4230 or call 514-855-4500 ext. 8842 or visit www.csmb.qc.ca.">www.csmb.qc.ca.">www.csmb.qc.ca.