SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - It's a "Bonne Fête" for École Allain St. Cyr this year. Yellowknife's only francophone school is celebrating its 20th year of existence.

New principal Yvonne Careen says it is truly something to celebrate.

From left, Christopher Moore, Mikaela Smith and Amber O'Reilly share a laugh during their Grade 10/11 class. - Erika Sherk/NNSL photo

"I've seen the progress, I've seen the stages it's gone through and we're strong, we're viable and it's going to be a wonderful year," says Careen.

The school first began in 1989 with nine students. It was housed in J.H. Sissons School.

Now the school has its own building and 102 students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12.

Christopher Moore, 16, is in Grade 11. He started with Allain St. Cyr in kindergarten.

"I still remember going to the portables," he says. "It makes me proud to know that I'm still at the school."

Mikaela Smith, 14, and Amber O'Reilly, 16, have also spent their entire academic lives at the francophone school.

"It's certainly an accomplishment to say, 'look at us, we've been here 20 years," says O'Reilly, "and we're still going strong," finishes up Smith.

The three are enthusiastic when asked about their school.

"I really love it. It's feels like a family because it's so small," says Smith.

If the school didn't exist, "I wouldn't be speaking as much French. I probably never would have learned it," says O'Reilly.

"I'd feel further from my roots," adds the young woman, who is half French-Canadian.

For Moore, "I'd probably still speak French but I wouldn't have the same love for it I have now."

"Or the same vocabulary!" chimes in Smith.

It's very important to have French education, says Martine Gauvine, who has taught Allain St. Cyr kindergarten for 12 years.

Francophone parents who want their children to learn English sometimes ask if attending English school would be best, says Gauvine.

"We have a phrase we use: 'French, you have to learn. English, you catch," she says. "We say, 'put them in gymnastics or skating and in two weeks you'll have to say to them, 'speak French!'"

Surrounded by a sea of English, it's more than important for kids to get a solid grounding in their language and culture, she says. "It's a saviour. It's a must."

Parents started working toward a school in the mid-1980s, lobbying the government and the school boards. In 1989, the program began. After years of discussions the current school building was built, opening its doors for the 1999 school year.

"When we had our own space we saw a huge spike in enrolment," says Careen, from around 40 students to 75, "and it's increased every year since."

This has led to expansions. Phase one of a two-phase plan was completed last year, including a new library, after a legal battle resulted in a Supreme Court judge ordering the territorial government to move forward on it. Phase two has not yet begun and the school's Parental Right Holders Association has again taken the territorial government to court. With the case just out of the preliminary inquiry stage, Careen says that the parents' association is hoping that the government will agree to an out-of-court settlement.

"It would be fantastic if the government announced on our 20th anniversary that they were willing to settle out of court and we could start talking about plans for phase two."

Phase two includes a gym, a home economics kitchen, and other classrooms.

Despite the ongoing battle for its expansion, the focus at school is firmly on its big year.

"Every month as close to the 20th as we can, we will be doing a little celebration," says Careen.