Conseil scolaire du Nord-Ouest (CSNO)
Championing Francophone Education in Alberta
An archetype of what it means to deliver francophone education in a rapidly changing world.
The Conseil scolaire du Nord-Ouest (CSNO) serves a vast region in northwestern Alberta, Canada. Its jurisdiction extends from the Grande Prairie area in the southwest to the Slave Lake region in the southeast, reaching northward to the borders of the Northwest Territories. Within this territory, the CSNO operates three francophone schools: École Héritage in Falher, École Nouvelle Frontière in Grande Prairie, and École des Quatre-Vents in Peace River, providing French-language education from preschool through Grade 12.
For Superintendent Brigitte Kropielnicki, the board’s values of engagement, collaboration, inclusivity, excellence, and well-being are the foundation of a welcoming, family-like atmosphere in every school. “One thing we hear over and over again from visitors and families is that when they walk into our schools, they feel at home. It’s this sense of family that we’re committed to maintaining.”
After 30 years of operation, CSNO’s philosophy has grown stronger, shaped by the diverse needs of its community and a steadfast focus on student success. Kropielnicki reflects on the journey with pride: “Our focus has always been on creating a space where everyone feels they belong—a place where students, families, and staff come together to achieve excellence.” The values may have been recently refined, but their spirit has defined the board from the beginning.
Small but Impactful
“We pride ourselves on being the smallest school board in Alberta,” Kropielnicki says with a note of pride. “But even though our numbers are small, we do big things. Every single one of our students receives personalized education.” The challenge, she explains, lies in awareness. Many families moving to Alberta are just now aware of the availability. “People don’t think Alberta has francophone education,” Kropielnicki admits. “So, they don’t look for it at first. When they find out about us, their children are often already enrolled in other programs.” Changing that perception and spreading the word have become the board’s key objectives.
Despite these obstacles, CSNO’s outcomes speak for themselves. According to Kropielnicki, high school students boast a nearly 100% graduation rate, with many pursuing post-secondary education or entering the workforce fully prepared. “It takes a village to raise a child,” she says, “and we take ownership of that. We don’t just educate our students—we’re active participants in their success.”
Marketing efforts have become essential for growing awareness about CSNO’s offerings. Board Chair Sylvianne Maisonneuve explains, “We use every opportunity we can to get the word out. Social media is a big part of that. We’re active on our platforms, promoting our schools and connecting with the community.” Local advertising also plays a role in raising the profile of francophone education. “We’ve put up billboards in the communities where our schools are located,” Maisonneuve shares. “And word of mouth is huge. We try to be visible—whether that’s through community events, conversations, or highlighting the achievements of our graduates.”
Advocating Equity in Education
Operating within a minority language context presents unique challenges for CSNO. Francophone schools often have to provide programs that rival those of larger, majority-language institutions. “Our main initiative as a board is pursuing equivalency in education,” Maisonneuve explains.
“Because we’re offering education in a minority context and have smaller enrollment numbers, it’s not always easy to offer the same range of programs as the English schools in the same communities.” Much of the board’s efforts to address this disparity revolve around working with the government to secure resources and recognition for their schools. “We spend a lot of time advocating—to make sure we can provide a service that is not just adequate, but competitive and attractive to our clientele.”
Collaboration with the surrounding community also plays a critical role in enhancing the educational experience for CSNO students. “We invest heavily in building community partnerships,” Maisonneuve shares. “There’s a codependent relationship between our schools and the local community. We need those connections to give our students opportunities outside the classroom that help reinforce their identity and culture.”
STEM Education and Tailored Pathways
STEM education—science, technology, engineering, and math—has become integral to shaping young minds at CSNO. “All our schools are equipped with the tools we need for STEM education,” Kropielnicki explains. “In the lower grades, it’s more of an initiation—something to pique their interest. As they move into junior high, we begin tailoring the experience based on each student’s passions.” This personalization, she notes, is where the advantage of smaller schools shines. “We can cater to individual interests and create unique education plans for every student. It’s flexible, so they can adjust their path as their goals evolve.”
Recently, CSNO signed a partnership with Careers Next Generation, which facilitates internships by connecting students with local industries. “We’ve also established memorandum agreements with Northern Lakes College and the polytechnic in Grand Prairie,” Kropielnicki adds. “These dual-credit programs allow students to earn high school and college credits simultaneously, opening up more opportunities for their futures.”
Work experience programs have become another key component of the board’s strategy to prepare students for life after graduation. According to Kropielnicki, these opportunities have gained significant traction, particularly in industries like mechanics. “Work experience has been popular for a long time,” she explains. “Right now, the mechanic pathway is really exploding in Alberta. But whatever direction they choose—whether it’s trades, academics, or something else—our goal is simple: to ensure students are happy and confident in the futures they’re building.”
Bilingualism as a Bridge to Opportunity
For students in CSNO, fluency in French and English is key to their future success. “Our students are bilingual by grade nine,” Kropielnicki explains. “And by the time they graduate in grade 12, they can switch from one language to the other effortlessly.” This bilingualism proves invaluable when it comes to dual-credit programs with institutions like Northern Lakes College and Northwest Polytechnic, where coursework is delivered in English. “These colleges operate in English, and our students have no issues,” she adds. “Being in a francophone school doesn’t mean they’re limited—they graduate ready to thrive in an English-dominant society.”
CSNO students also meet the same rigorous academic standards as their peers in English-language schools. “In grade 12, our students write the same diploma exams as students in English-only schools,” Kropielnicki points out. The bilingual education model ensures they’re prepared for exams and the realities of the workforce and higher education.
Supporting Students and Teachers
CSNO’s balancing act of creativity, partnership, and long-term planning involves ensuring that students and staff have access to the resources they need. Though a smaller board with limited funding compared to larger districts, CSNO has developed a robust support network that helps it deliver impactful education.
“We have career counselors on staff who meet with students directly at school,” Kropielnicki says. “We also have an inclusive education teacher who supports our teachers and works closely with students who need additional help.” She explains that while the board may not have the expansive resources of larger districts, the close-knit nature of the schools allows for creative problem-solving. “We’ve had students with learning disabilities go on to succeed at trades colleges because of the support they received. We may not always do it traditionally, but we find a way to make it work.”
Teacher well-being is also a priority for the board. CSNO provides access to a well-being counselor and works closely with Alberta Health Services and Alberta Mental Health Services to promote a healthy school culture. “They even have a francophone component, translating resources to ensure they’re accessible to our schools,” Kropielnicki says. Regular meetings with these organizations allow the board to stay ahead of emerging needs, reinforcing a strong partnership with the broader community.
Infrastructure Investments
When it comes to funding allocation, infrastructure remains a major focus. “We receive funding for operations and maintenance from the province, and we’re in constant discussions with the ministry to ensure our facilities are up to standard,” Kropielnicki notes. Recently, the board celebrated the completion of a major project—a new school in Peace River that opened in October. “The project was managed by Alberta Infrastructure, but the builder made an effort to hire local tradespeople,” she adds. “It’s great to see local businesses benefit from these projects, especially up here in the north.”
The board is already gearing up for its next major undertaking: modernizing École Héritage in Falher. Originally constructed in 1954 as a college for priests, it underwent a renovation in 1997 but now requires further updates.
Looking ahead, there’s growing interest in expanding francophone education to Slave Lake, where a significant number of francophones have expressed interest in local schooling options. “We’ve had a lot of requests for a new school there,” Kropielnicki explains. “We’ll be exploring this with the town council and the local MLA in the near future.”
Lifelong Learning and the Reward of Growth
In the ever-evolving world of education, lifelong learning is a necessity. “This is my 32nd year in education, and I’m still learning,” Kropielnicki shares. “Society in 2024 is not the same as it was in 2014. A lot has changed, and we must evolve with it. Being in education means you can’t stop learning—you must keep up with the research and adapt to the world around you.” For her, this constant evolution is not a challenge but a defining feature of the field.
Maisonneuve finds the reward for this continuous effort in the students themselves. “The most rewarding part of working in education is working with youth, with children,” she says. Every child matters. Watching them grow and develop into contributing members of society—that’s the most fulfilling part.” Seeing the collective efforts of families, educators, and community partners reflected in a student’s success makes the work so worthwhile.
“It’s amazing to see the cycle,” Maisonneuve adds. “You see all these investments—time, energy, care—from multiple partners come together, and then these children grow into adults who start the cycle again. It’s a powerful thing to witness.” This long-term impact reinforces the value of education as a fundamental driver of progress within society.
Looking into the Future
As CSNO looks toward the next 18 months, growth and accessibility remain central to its mission. “We’re always looking to improve, to grow, and to make things better,” Maisonneuve explains. “As we gather new data, we see there are pockets of francophone populations that don’t currently have access to our schools. One of our main goals is to make francophone education more accessible to these families by creating opportunities that connect communities to the board’s unique educational model, ensuring that no one feels left behind.”
For Kropielnicki, the board’s history proves its ability to evolve and thrive. “When I joined 32 years ago we had one school,” she says. “Now, we have three. I see our board growing every year, adapting to meet the needs of our students and families.” She likens CSNO to a canoe: agile and able to change course quickly. “Because we are small, we adapt fast. We offer what our community wants, and that’s how we survive. Whatever our community looks like in 18 months, that’s what we’ll look like too.”
Part of this vision also involves providing francophones with a wide range of opportunities comparable to those available to the majority population. “We want to make this a land of opportunity for francophones,” Maisonneuve emphasizes. “Whether it’s new programs, career pathways, or geographic expansion, we’re working to ensure our students and families have access to the same diversity of options.”
AT A GLANCE
Conseil scolaire du Nord-Ouest (CSNO)
What: Francophone school board providing French first language education from K-12
Where: Northwestern Alberta
Website: www.csno.ab.ca
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