Minister of education and Early Childhood development, Becky Druhan, answers questions from the media.

Acadian families in Tor Bay will be able to send their children to school next year much closer to home.

The province announced funding for a new school in the community that will be open for the 2023-2024 academic year. Previously, the closest school to Tor Bay was 82 kilometres away.

Guysborough-Tracadie MLA Greg Morrow says it’s a historic day for the community.

“This is the last Acadian community in the province that doesn’t have its own CSAP school… when you look at how quickly this came about, it’s really impressive. Tor Bay was only recognized as an Acadian region in 2021. From then, to this point, it’s been less than two years. So, it’s a very exciting day,” said Morrow.

The school will be built using modular classrooms installed next to the Larry’s River Community Centre. Students and staff will be able to access the community centre’s meeting rooms, kitchen, and playground. The provincial government says that the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial (CSAP) will work wit the community on a long-term infrastructure solution. Morrow does not seem to be in a hurry to establish a permanent building.

“We’re using these modulars as a pilot project to test and see how this will go in the community… let’s see how that goes for a few years and then start looking at some long-term infrastructure,” said Morrow.

The Tor Bay school is part of the $20 million of funding announced for in the province’s five-ear capital pan for modular classrooms.