MARATHON — Partnership is often the greatest pathway to success.
Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord is opening a new French school, École élémentaire publique de Marathon, creating 95 French-language spaces in the community.
The announcement was made on April 25 by MPP Kevin Holland and Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, with representatives from Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord and the Superior-Greenstone District School Board in attendance as well.
The Ontario government is investing $2.3 million into the new space.
As a collaborative effort between both school boards, École élémentaire publique de Marathon will share space with Margaret Twomey Public School, which also hosts space for child-care services.
Sébastien Fontaine, Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord’s director of education, said this is a “big step” for the Francophone community in and around Marathon and explained how the two schools will share the space.
“We will use a wing of the school and we will renovate it. It will be an opportunity, as well, for their students and our students to collaborate in learning and aid their success,” Fontaine said.
He added the school board will work with an architect to decide what renovations need to take place.
Holland said the new school will be about more than just education.
“This new school . . . will bring Marathon families together, educate our young people, and serve as a vital hub of activity in the community. Our government is listening to hard-working Northern families and we are delivering real results. Let’s continue to get the job done,” Holland said.
Lecce expanded on Holland’s remarks, saying the ministry of education is focused on “cutting the red tape” to get schools built and spaces open as quickly as possible.
He also highlighted unique partnership opportunities available to schools in Northern Ontario.
“We have such an amazing school system in the North. I’ve learned that collaboration is probably a necessity in the North but it is natural. This is a community where school boards work together, communities work together to try and punch above their weight and do more with less,” Lecce said.
“I want to acknowledge that partnership, that collaboration, that spirit of doing what’s right for children. It really happens up in the North more frequently and we said in the ministry that we would reward school boards that come forth with a good business case for joint-use projects.
"I think, today, the fact that MPP Holland has announced a commitment to build and fund 95 spaces – a joint-use project between the English and French public boards – is a beautiful example of how we can work together for the benefit of children.”
Lecce thanked Holland for his “relentless leadership” and emphasized the importance of this investment in a new school – especially considering the general need for more schools across the province.
“The school board brought forth a proposal based on need and demand. There’s growth in the French-language community and we’re seeing that across Ontario. This is one of the first times in a long time that student enrolment is up – and not just in the French system,” Lecce said.
The project is part of the provincial government’s $1.3 billion Capital Priorities Program to build new schools and expansions, including child-care spaces.
According to Lecce and Holland, the $1.3 billion invested in the Capital Priorities Program is the highest investment ever made in a single year by the Ontario government, with an aim to create more than 27,000 new student spaces and 1,700 licensed child-care spaces across the province.
École élémentaire publique de Marathon is anticipated to open in September 2026.
