Updated on 20 October 2026 at 09h15
This article written in french by Corinne Prince was automatically translated using AI
On October 6 and 8, the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board (SWLSB) held two public meetings at Laval Junior Academy in Chomedey, where the Board of Commissioners presented proposed scenarios for restructuring school catchment areas and the use of its school buildings in Laval.
Following analyses based on enrolment trends, building capacity, educational needs and financial constraints, the SWLSB presented its proposed scenarios to the public for the first time.
These included the possibility of closing Our Lady of Peace Elementary School (Fabreville) and Phoenix Alternative High School (Duvernay).
Students currently attending these schools would be transferred to other schools in Laval. The OLP building would remain vacant for one year, while the building used by Phoenix would be allocated to the CDC Vimont adult education centre, whose lease for its premises on boulevard des Laurentides expires in 2027.
These possibilities were strongly denounced by hundreds of parents during the meetings, as well as online through the launch of a petition and the organization of a citizen-led movement on social media. The consensus is clear: no one wants to see their child uprooted and transferred to a new school.
Students with Special Needs
All the scenarios proposed by the SWLSB as part of its review of schools, programs, catchment areas and space utilization in Laval involved relocating students with special needs.
In the western part of the city, the proposal would have added students from Crestview Elementary School to the student population at Souvenir School. In the east, Phoenix Alternative High School would have been relocated to optimize the use of the building at 1105 rue Victor-Morin.
The SWLSB denies targeting vulnerable students when developing its scenarios, but parents and former students at the schools concerned remain unconvinced.
“This is shameful and disgusting,” says Victoria Rebelo, a Phoenix alumna and organizer of the Save Phoenix Alternative Highschool initiative. “There are already not enough resources for children with special needs and alternative schools. […] It gives the impression that the Board of Commissioners favours neurotypical children over neurodivergent ones.”
“We should not be asking vulnerable students to find a place for themselves in the buildings currently available to us,” added Christina Cichon, who served as Phoenix’s principal from 2012 to 2015, on the Save Phoenix Alternative Highschool Facebook page. “We should be developing an environment tailored to their needs to support their success. Phoenix is more than a program, a place or a number on an enrolment list. It is a culture that has changed lives. That culture deserves to be protected and invested in.”
Phoenix is the only English-language alternative school in the Laval region, and its program is highly valued and sought after by many families. So why consider closing it?
“We also need to look at alternative education across the entire SWLSB territory, not just in Laval,” replies Maxeen Jolin, the SWLSB’s Assistant Director of Communications. “[…] The School Board would like to establish a committee to examine the future of English-language alternative education, not only in Laval, but also in the Lanaudière and Laurentians regions.”
Why These Scenarios?
The SWLSB began its presentations by revealing that enrolment in its schools in Laval has been declining for several years and that, as a result, its facilities are operating well below capacity.
Indeed, there are 705 fewer students from Laval attending its schools than in the 2020–2021 school year, and government projections indicate that this trend is expected to continue. This inevitably affects revenue from tuition fees as well as government grants allocated according to student enrolment, deepening a financial deficit that is becoming increasingly difficult to overcome.
“The School Board’s financial situation is the result of several pressures that have accumulated over the years, including school transportation costs, the resources needed to meet students’ growing needs, and expenses related to staff absences and the CNESST [Quebec’s occupational health and safety commission],” adds the Assistant Director of Communications.
According to the Board of Commissioners, declining enrolment is affecting English-language school boards across Quebec, and Laval is no exception.
When asked what measures had been taken before consulting families about potential school closures, the SWLSB referred to a recovery plan that remains confidential because the document is “awaiting the required approvals.” The Board of Commissioners also stated that it had achieved savings by not replacing employees who retired, reducing energy costs, and selling buildings and land.
Consultation to Continue
In response to mounting opposition from families, the Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution on Tuesday, October 13, to temporarily suspend the portion of the public consultation relating to the proposed school closures, as well as the proposed changes to the catchment areas of OLP, Twin Oaks and Crestview elementary schools in western Laval.
In an email signed by Board Chair James Di Sano, the SWLSB clearly stated that no school closures or catchment area changes would take place next year. However, it reiterated that “declining student enrolment and the need to optimize the use of school buildings remain significant challenges.” No date has been set for the resumption of the consultation.
The consultation regarding the proposed relocation of CDC Vimont and Phoenix Alternative High School will continue, although closing Laval’s only alternative school is no longer being considered.
An information session for staff will be held on Wednesday, October 21, and a public meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 25, to discuss these potential relocations further.
“Relocating Phoenix into a traditional school risks destroying the very environment that makes it successful,” says Victoria Rebelo, reiterating the importance of continuing the fight. “Phoenix exists because the traditional school system failed students like me. Simply describing Phoenix as a ‘separate entity’ does not in any way guarantee that its identity, independence or the support it provides to its students will be preserved.”
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