Montreal, August 29, 2022 -  From its humble beginnings as a schoolhouse on the corner of Clarke and Cote St. Antoine in 1873, on Tuesday, August 30 (1 pm), Westmount High School (4350 Ste. Catherine St. W) is set to mark the beginning of its 150 th year in education. Westmount High School will kick off its sesquicentennial on Tuesday by welcoming back alumni, both students and staff, who will officially cut the ribbon on what will undoubtedly be a year filled with special events and celebrations. Additionally, the high school will unveil a specially curated memorabilia exhibit that students, staff and the public will be able to visit throughout the year About the English Montreal School Board With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 77 sc

Montreal, August 12 , 20 2 2 – The English Montreal School Board i s pleased to learn that a Quebec Superior Court judge has suspended parts of Bill 96, the new provincial language law. Ju stice Chantal Corriveau suspend ed two sections of the law that will require any legal proceedings filed in English in Quebec to be accompanied by a French translation ( Mitchell et al c PGQ , 500-17-121419-223) .  A hearing on the merits of the case is expected be held in November.   “This is a very encouraging development,” said EMSB Chair Joe Ortona. “The present-day Quebec government has once again been told by the courts that it has  overstepp ed its bounds. This has already been the case for Bills 40 and 21 dealing with the abolition of school boards and secularism.”   The EMSB is contesting the validity of Bill 96 in court as well , including the very provisions suspended by the court today .   T he EMSB ’s contestation is based notably on s. 23 of the  Canadian Charter of Right

Montreal, A ugust 10, 2022- A survey conducted by the Association for Canadian Studies, working with polling firm Leger, shows that three years after Bill 21, An Act Respecting the Laicity of the State, was  adopted , religious minorities in the province are feeling increasingly alienated and hopeless.     “This is highly regrettable, yet not surprising,” commented EMSB Chair Joe Ortona. Chair Ortona with Hanifya Scott, who retired in June as a teacher at Carlyle. She was only permitted to wear her hijab because of a grandfather clause in Bill 21. In April of 2021, the Quebec Superior Court struck down key provisions of Bill 21. This decision applied to all English school boards based on Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.   The provincial government appealed the ruling, so it therefore remains in place. Justice Marc-André Blanchard   stated that the law violates the basic rights of religious minorities in the province. "[Bill 21] brings about serio