The congregation of the Sisters of Sainte-Marcelline, which had created a shock wave recently following its refusal to renew the lease of the Sainte-Marcelline private school, is changing its tune. The sisters say they are now working “hard to find solutions” so that the start of the 2023 school year takes place within the walls of the establishment.
“We are currently exploring promising avenues,” wrote in a communication sent Thursday evening Sister Marielle Dion, president of the board of directors and regional delegate of the Sisters of Sainte-Marcelline. “We are deploying everything that is necessary so that our students can go back to school in 2023 in this place that is so dear to them,” she adds. She did not respond to our interview request.
This is a reversal from October 6, when she said she could not renew the lease because of the aging condition of the buildings. From 12 to 16 million dollars would be necessary “to ensure the conformity and the modernity of the buildings”. Founded in 1959 by nuns from Italy, the establishment welcomes 600 girls from kindergarten to 5e secondary.
The “clear” change in tone is seen as a victory by Isabelle Roy, president of the Villa Sainte-Marcelline alumni association and member of the board of directors (CA). The subject was discussed at length during a meeting of the council on Thursday evening, on which sit three sisters of the congregation. The members of the Board present voted unanimously against the closure of the school and the discussions reassured her about the future.
“After nine days, it was welcome,” she says. Today we have more and more confidence that a definitive solution is taking shape to ensure the survival of the Villa. »
The general management of the school also refused our request for an interview. In a communication sent Friday, the director general, Ninon St-Pierre, indicates that during the board meeting, the members “were informed of the steps and credible discussions undertaken by the congregation in order to be able to ensure the sustainability of the institution”. .
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