We need your voice in the City Survey
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- Prioritize construction of Louise-Arbour school to begin in 2024 on this general site at Preston/Somerset so children can finally attend an appropriate, safe and healthy space to learn and thrive no later than 2026.
- Encourage the City to develop any planned green space in parallel with the construction of the school, so as not to deprive the community of a park for 5-10 years.
- Encourage the City to quickly redraw its plan so that construction of the school be completed by 2026 while preserving the current Park Plouffe site.
The 1010 Somerset West Development Plan includes redevelopment of Plouffe Park (adjacent to 1010 Somerset Lands) to:
- Build the long awaited French elementary public school facility for École élémentaire publique Louise-Arbour
- House a much-needed daycare for 50 children in the community.
The current, rented facility for Louise-Arbour school is an over-crowded annex building on the old St. Mary’s School site. It is woefully inadequate for the needs of the students and staff. This urgently needs to be remedied by a new construction. Louise-Arbour’s students have been in these conditions since 2017, despite many years of promises of a new school. We need your support!
- The current, temporary facility for Louise-Arbour elementary school is over capacity, lacking specialized and individualized learning spaces, and poses serious risks to the health, safety and well-being of our children and staff. In short, it is unacceptable.
- The City’s current proposal would see the school built by 2026, which is the best option for our children who have already been waiting 7 years. We cannot have the construction of the school be further delayed another 5+ years for the entire 1010 Somerset site to be developed.
- There are no other available sites in the Somerset/Kitchissippi Wards to build a new school or to temporarily relocate.
- The current facility of École Louise-Arbour does not offer an educational experience to the children that is equivalent to that which is offered to their peers in other Ottawa schools.
Proposed survey answers in support of the construction of the new École élémentaire publique Louise-Arbour :
Q7 The concept plan includes the development of a French-language public elementary school. Please indicate the importance of this element:
- Very important
Q8 The concept plan for the French-language public elementary school includes the development of a childcare facility. Please indicate the importance of this element:
- Very important
Q13 Are there any additional ideas or considerations you would like to see incorporated in the concept plan. New ideas are welcome, please specify and share them here. Idea or element to consider:
- Development should not force a choice between depriving the community of a park for 5-10 years and a building that hundreds of children need. The development of green space should take place in parallel with the construction of the school.
Q14 Are there any additional ideas or considerations you would like to see incorporated in the concept plan. New ideas are welcome, please specify and share them here. Idea/Consideration:
- If the City redesigns the plan to preserve the current Plouffe Park site, it must be done quickly so that construction of the Louise-Arbour school begins in 2024 and is completed by 2026. Further delays are not acceptable.
Q16 Are there any elements of this concept that you are strongly in favour of? Why?
- The school's current facilities do not offer an educational experience equivalent to that offered elsewhere in Ottawa. It is deficient and poses significant risks to children's health and safety. The L-A school must be prioritized.
Q17 Are there any elements of this concept that you are strongly opposed to? Why?
- Building the school by 2026 is the best option for children who have already been waiting 7 years for a proper school. We can't accept a delay in building the school until the whole site has been developed.