Rally to Protect FACE School remains Strong and Unwavering

Time's ticking, but the fierce rally of parents, students, and a legion of others refusing to buckle under Quebec's scrapping of École FACE's restoration project shows no signs of waning. Spurred on by the hope of persuading the government to reverse this heavily criticized decision, they won't back down any time soon.

In a mere three weeks, a petition on the National Assembly's website, championed by Liberal MNA Jennifer Maccarone, had banked over 11,000 signatures by the midweek. The document calls for the government to "reverse its decision to permanently uproot École FACE and sell its historic environs to private interests" and instead collaborate with concerned citizens to forge a new blueprint that safeguards FACE's educational ethos, a treasure of the public school network.

"We can't coexist in a world where we construct bridges and roads, yet close schools. We're living in a flipped-up reality," says Diego Medina Creimer, one of the petition's architects, whose spawn attend the school, in an exclusive conversation.

Our site had revealed on April 4 that Quebec had called off the restoration project for the primary and secondary bilingual school with an artistic calling, nestled near McGill University. The costs associated with the endeavor had skyrocketed over time and were now reckoned at $375 million, an unrealistic figure to renovate a school catering to approximately 1,300 students, according to Quebec.

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This callous move spawned a series of protests outside the school over the past few weeks, the arrangement of a student choir lamenting their misfortune in front of Montreal City Hall, and the launch of this petition, which will be debated on May 21 at the National Assembly. Plenty of students, parents, and former FACE educators will attend the Salon Bleu to observe the exchanges between elected officials, hoping their petition will ignite a spark.

"In terms of attendance, we're shackled by the seating capacity at the National Assembly," says Julie Bélanger, a former FACE student involved in this mobilization.

The plan is to sustain this downtown Montreal building in a spick-and-span state through annual maintenance work valued at $5 million until all its students are transferred to two primary and secondary schools by 2032. This split, according to many parents and teachers, will gravely impact FACE's identity, particularly since these two schools won't have an auditorium or rehearsal rooms akin to those in the original building.

"They'll perform concerts in the gym, that's the truth," sighs retired FACE teacher France Arcand, who frets about the fallout for the affected students. "The future unnerves us."

The artist Patsy Van Roost, affectionately known as the urban fairy, had the privilege of gauging the school's importance to students and staff over the past two months during her residency. She concluded her residency on Wednesday, during which she guided artistic initiatives with 4th and 6th-grade students alongside a teacher.

The 4th graders designed 71 posters that now adorn the school building, each depicting a cherished reminiscence from their time at the school, which is observing its 50th anniversary this year. "The memories are etched in the building, and the teacher created a map for those who want to embark on a memory quest," the artist recollected with a smile.

The 6th graders stitched a memory that they can adorn on their garments as they transition to middle school. Patsy Van Roost also spearheaded a neighborhood initiative that welcomed all members of the school to drop by and have a phrase embroidered encapsulating a tale related to their time there. Originally arranged in anticipation of the temporary relocation of the school's students, the project took on a more sentimental tone after the surprising announcement of the permanent relocation.

"My heart is aching," the artist lamented, expressing her sadness at the announced departure of students from the building that has birthed countless memories.

The school's students have extended an invitation to Minister of Education Bernard Drainville to attend a brief concert they will stage in the historic building on May 8, hoping to "alter his perspective," said Diego Medina Creimer.

Reached by our site, Minister of Education Bernard Drainville's office did not validate his attendance at the brief concert. However, it consented that it is in touch with parents whose offspring attend FACE. Nevertheless, renovating the building is not an option due to financial constraints, the minister reiterated, while assuring that the affected students would continue to receive "the same education based on the fine arts" in two thoroughly modernized schools in the coming years. "We're maintaining the FACE program in its entirety."

Once vacated, the 1914-built building could be auctioned off, potentially to private interests. Heritage Montreal harbors doubts that a buyer would be interested in the historic building, whose renovation would be subjected to numerous rules related to its rich legacy. It could therefore join the extensive list of vacant edifices in the metropolis in seven years.

Additionally, Dinu Bumbaru, director of policies at the organization, questions whether Quebec consulted the professionals who estimated the renovation costs at $375 million to produce a less expensive proposal prior to cancelling the project.

"The exodus of FACE would signify a total defeat for the Quebec government, as we'd be left devoid of any schools in downtown Montreal," said MP Jennifer Maccarone. Meanwhile, former FACE student Philibert Gasse hopes this mobilization will "wake up Mr. Drainville," but he is not optimistic. "In my opinion, he bears too much arrogance to change his stance."

The petition, advocating for the reversal of the decision to sell École FACE and collaborate instead on a new plan to preserve its educational ethos, has garnered over 11,000 signatures.
Diego Medina Creimer, a petition architect and parent of children attending École FACE, expressed concern that the world would exist where bridges and roads are constructed, yet schools are closed, calling it a "flipped-up reality."
On May 8, the school's students have extended an invitation to Minister of Education Bernard Drainville to attend a brief concert, hoping it will alter his perspective on the school's fate.
Heritage Montreal harbors doubts that a buyer would be interested in the historic École FACE building if it were to be sold, potentially joining the extensive list of vacant edifices in the metropolis in seven years.