Dieppe schools set for major upgrades with $1.5M in provincial funding

A Dieppe high school and middle school are set to receive major upgrades with new government funding.

In a press release on Monday, the province announced that its investing $1.5 million for preliminary work on upgrades to expand, modernize, and extend the lifespan of conjoined high school and middle school Ecole Mathieu Martin and Ecole Carrefour de l’Acadie.

According to the release, this funding is part of 12 year, $78.2-million project that will begin with an assessment of the schools’ space needs

Michel Cote, chair of the Francophone Sud School District Education Council, said the announcement represents a long-awaited milestone for the Dieppe School community

“It reflects the vitality of our district and the importance of investing in infrastructure that matches the growth we are experiencing,” wrote Cote.

One possibility being considered for the project, according to the release, is the addition of more than 5,000 square metres, which could create more space for classrooms, multi-purpose and project areas, art and music rooms, resource rooms, computer and science labs, and gymnasiums.

Ecole Mathieu-Martin is one of the largest francophone schools in Atlantic Canada, with almost 1,500 students. The building that it shares with Ecole Carrefour de L’Acadie was constructed in 1971.