Kuujjuaq, Qc. (September 04, 2015) – The Kativik School Board welcomes the public announcement made by the Quebec Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Research today September 4, 2015, regarding the allocation of funds to finance the reconstruction of Tarsakallak School, Aupaluk.

“This is very good news for the Kativik School Board, for our students and their parents as well as for the community of Aupaluk as a whole,” declared Alicie Nalukturuk, President of the Kativik School Board. “I also wish to thank the Northern Village of Aupaluk for their cooperation and understanding in reaching a final agreement on the reconstruction of Tarsakallak School with the school board’s Executive Committee in May 2015,” she added.

The current reconstruction planning process foresees that the construction of the new school will be completed by August 2016. Construction work began in July 2015.

The total cost of the reconstruction project is estimated at $16,807,377. The contribution for this funding is estimated at $12,043,033 from the Quebec government, at $4,014,344 from the Federal government and at $750,000 from the Northern Village of Aupaluk.

Background:

Tarsakallak School was destroyed by a fire on March 15, 2014. On March 31, students were back to class. Since that date, schooling in Aupaluk has been provided out of three separate premises. Two classrooms are located at the Sukliateet Child Care Centre. Five others are located at the Aupaluk’s former municipal office (renovated and refurbished for this purpose by the Kativik School Board). Finally, four additional temporary classrooms and a temporary physical exercise room were constructed in Aupaluk, with funding provided by the Quebec Ministry of Education. The construction was completed at the end of November 2014. These new temporary classrooms and physical exercise room are located next to the former municipal office.

About us:

The Kativik School Board (KSB) was created in 1975, under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Since 1978, it has been the exclusive provider of academic services to the Nunavik population. Education programs developed by the KSB are offered in schools of the 14 Nunavik communities, in Inuktitut as first language and in French and English as second languages. More information at: www.kativik.qc.ca

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For information, please contact:

Jade Duchesneau Bernier

Public Relations Officer

(514) 482-8220

jadeb@kativik.qc.ca