Former federal NDP leader Tom Mulcair was on hand Friday morning as the Yukon government and the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon (CSFY) gathered to celebrate the new French First Language Secondary School Community Centre, Centre scolaire secondaire communautaire Paul-Émile Mercier (CSSC Mercier).

School staff and students joined dignitaries to honour the five-year collaboration. The agreement made it possible for French First Language secondary students in Whitehorse to continue learning their language in an innovative and flexible learning space that also serves as a community centre, the government and the commission said in a statement.

Construction of the building was completed in September 2020, and the school opened its doors to Grades 7 to 12 students on Nov. 13, 2020.

However, due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, an opening ceremony to celebrate the completion of the school was postponed. Students and staff are now beginning their first full school year at CSSC Mercier.

The name of the school and community centre was officially chosen on May 15, 2020. The name was proposed by Vincent Bélanger as part of a competition launched by the CSFY with the francophone community.

Paul-Émile Mercier was born in 1877. The son of Virginie Saint-Denis and Honoré Mercier, a former premier of Quebec, Paul-Émile left his mark in the Yukon as an engineer.

He helped develop the Yukon’s transportation system in the early 20th century.

Mulcair was hand because he is a great grandson of Mercier. An aunt joined him in Whitehorse.

Speaking Friday afternoon to Montreal radio station CJAD, for which he is a political commentator, Mulcair called his Yukon experience “a moving day,” and praised the school’s “incredibly devoted teaching staff.”

He told his listeners he spent a couple of hours with students at the school, and that he and his aunt had enjoyed walking down to the Yukon River “in beautiful Whitehorse” on Friday morning.

“We are pleased to join the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon in celebrating this wonderful addition to the city of Whitehorse,” Education Minister Jeanie McLean said in the statement.

“We would like to thank all partners for their engagement and dedication to this project. We look forward to seeing students and community groups benefit from the modern learning and community spaces for years to come.”

Jean-Sébastien Blais, the commission’s president, said the official opening “represents a moment of pride.

“It is also a historic turning point that allows us to look to the future with optimism. We would like to thank all of the trustees and employees of the CSFY who, since 2009, have been resilient and visionary during the steps that led to the construction of the school.

“The official opening takes place with 122 students enrolled in a school that can accommodate 150,” Blais added.

“We see this as a sign of success and great promise for the future of our programs. We also hope that all of the communities of the Yukon will feel welcomed here.”

“The Government of Yukon and the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon have reached an agreement to ensure the three schools on the Riverdale campus work collaboratively to optimize the use of facilities,” the statement said.