English Montreal School Board

Largest English-speaking Quebec school board

For the Commission scolaire de Montréal, see Montreal School Board.

English Montreal School Board

Commission scolaire English-Montréal

Location

6000 Fielding Avenue
Montreal, Quebec

Canada
District information
Schools| 30 Elementary Schools
3 Elementary/Secondary Schools
21 Secondary Schools
7 Social Affairs Schools
10 Adult and Vocational Education Centres[1]
Students and staff
Students| 44,000[2]
Other information
Website| www.emsb.qc.ca

The English Montreal School Board (official name: Commission scolaire English-Montréal English-Montréal School Board; CSEM or EMSB) is one of five public school boards and one of two English-language school boards on the island of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. Its territory consists of 14 of Montreal's 19 boroughs[a] as well as the municipalities of Côte-Saint-Luc, Hampstead, Montréal-Est, Montréal-Ouest, Mont-Royal and Westmount.[3]

EMSB Administration Building

The Administration Building of the EMSB is located at 6000 Fielding Avenue[4] in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. The building was formerly occupied by the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal (PSBGM).[5]

## History

[edit]

The Government of Quebec reorganized the province's public school boards in the mid-1990s. School boards in Quebec had been organized along religious confessional lines, Catholic and Protestant, since before Canadian Confederation. The province of Quebec was guaranteed a confessional public school system by the British North America Act, 1867, now known as the Constitution Act, 1867. The provincial government was required to ask the federal government to amend the Canadian Constitution if it were to reorganize school boards along linguistic lines (English and French). The amendment was passed by both the House of Commons and the Senate, notwithstanding the unresolved constitutional debate between Quebec and the rest of Canada.

The EMSB officially began operations on July 1, 1998, after[6] the English sectors of the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal (PSBGM), the Montreal Catholic School Commission (CECM), the Commission scolaire Jérôme-Le Royer and the Commission scolaire Sainte-Croix were amalgamated to form the EMSB.[7]

The political infighting among the board's commissioners has received significant coverage in Montreal's English-language media, most notably the Montreal Gazette. This competition, for the most part, had previously pitted Catholics vs. Protestants. That division has recently become much less significant, however. But the harmonization of the previous boards' administrative policies and the debate over school closings due to declining enrollment have been especially inflammatory. In 2005, both the Montreal Gazette and the French-language tabloid Le Journal de Montréal printed a special series of articles denouncing alleged nepotism and graft in the province's public school boards. The Gazette's investigation focused almost exclusively on the hiring practices of the English Montreal School Board.

Enrollment in the English Montreal School Board's schools and centres continues to decline as it does in most English-language public school boards in Quebec. This is a part of an ongoing decline following the enactment of the Charter of the French Language by the Québec government in 1977.[8][9]

Since the EMSB's creation in 1998, the board has closed 21 schools, most recently 2 elementary schools and 1 high school in 2020. The School Board's chairperson attributes the declining enrolment to Bill 101, families moving to cities with lower home taxes, such as Laval; and the general decline in birth rates.[10]

In 2020, Joe Ortona, president of the board, was imposed a two-week suspension for violating the board's code of ethics after making disparaging remarks about a fellow commissioner. Julien Feldman, also a commissioner and vice-president of the board's ethics committee, had previously received six ethics complaints deemed founded, resulting in four reprimands and two suspensions.[11]

The EMSB had the highest voter turnout among all school boards in Quebec, with 21%.[12]

### Corruption investigations

[edit]

In 2016, EMSB was investigated by UPAC, the Quebec anti-corruption squad, in regards to its international student programs. The allegations relate to several Asian recruitment companies that were paid millions of dollars by the EMSB to facilitate the enrolment of foreign students, who in turn paid high tuition fees to the EMSB. Some teachers complained the international students did not have the necessary language skills to participate in the classroom and as a result the overall quality of education was diminished. At least one teacher resigned over the issue.[13][14][15]

In 2019, the EMSB was placed under partial trusteeship under investigation for alleged mismanagement and ethical violations, after a preliminary report revealed a mishandling of "millions of dollars".[16][17] The Ministry of Education appointed former Liberal Member of Parliament, Marlene Jennings, as the trustee in November.[18]

## Academics

[edit]

At 92.4 percent, the English Montreal School Board has the highest rate of students who earn a high school diploma among all public school boards in Quebec. This success rate is considerably higher than the provincewide average of 81.8 percent, and is only slightly lower than the 92.9 percent success rate for private schools.[19]

## Political stands

[edit]

In 2019, the EMSB said it would not enforce Bill 21, the Government of Quebec's proposed ban of public servants wearing religious symbols, stating that the board has never received a complaint from a parent or student about a teacher's religious symbol.[20]

The EMSB deployed efforts to persuade federal government to challenge the legality of Quebec CAQ government's 2021 Bill 96 for a ruling to the Supreme Court.[21]

## Organization

[edit]

The Director General of the EMSB is Nick Katalifos,[22] who is the school board's chief administrative officer.

Structurally, the EMSB has two Assistant Directors General: Jack H. Chadirdjian and Pela Nickoletopoulos. The school board also has three regional directors: Demetrios Giannacopoulos (west sector), Darlene Kehyayan (east sector), and Angela Spagnolo (adult education and vocational services). The school board also has a secretary-general: Mtre Nathalie Lauzière, who has a key role in the board's functioning. [23]

### List of Chairs of the English Montreal School Board

[edit]

Name  | Term of Office (start)  | Term of Office (end)

|
|

George Vathilakis

July 2, 1998

August 20, 2001

John Simms

September 12, 2001

November 21, 2003

Dominic Spiridigliozzi

November 25, 2003

November 9, 2007

Angela Mancini

November 14, 2007

July 15, 2020

Joe Ortona

November 6, 2020

Incumbent

### List of Vice-Chairs of the English Montreal School Board

[edit]

Name  | Ward  | Term of Office (start)  | Term of Office (end)

|
|
|

Dominic Spiridigliozzi

July 2, 1998

November 21, 2003

Elizabeth Fokoefs

November 25, 2003

November 9, 2007

Sylvia Lo Bianco

November 14, 2007

November 7, 2014

Sylvia Lo Bianco

November 17, 2014

September 26, 2018

Joe Ortona

September 26, 2018

November 6, 2020

Agostino Cannavino

November 11, 2020

December 19, 2023

James Kromida

January 18, 2024

November 9, 2024

James Kromida

Saint-Laurent

November 13, 2024

## List of EMSB Schools

[edit]

This school board oversees 30 elementary schools, 3 elementary and secondary schools, 21 secondary schools, 7 social affairs institutions and 10 adult and vocational centres, in which over 44,000 students are enrolled.

### Elementary schools

[edit]

* Bancroft School
* Carlyle School
* Cedarcrest School
* Coronation School
* Dalkeith School
* Dante School
* Dunrae Gardens School
* East Hill School
* Edinburgh School[24]
* Edward Murphy School
* Elizabeth Ballantyne School
* Gardenview School
* Gerald McShane School
* Hampstead School[25]
* Honoré-Mercier School
* John Caboto Academy[26]
* Leonardo da Vinci Academy
* Merton School
* Michelangelo International Elementary School
* Nesbitt Elementary School
* Our Lady of Pompei School
* Parkdale School
* Pierre de Coubertin School[27]
* Pierre Elliott Trudeau School
* Roslyn School
* Sinclair Laird School
* St. Gabriel School
* St. Monica School
* Westmount Park School
* Westmount Park School
* Willingdon School

### Elementary/Secondary Schools

[edit]

* F.A.C.E. School
* Royal Vale School[28]
* St. Raphael School

### Secondary Schools

[edit]

* James Lyng High School
* John F. Kennedy High School
* John Grant High School
* LaurenHill Academy
* Laurier Macdonald High School
* Lester B. Pearson High School[29]
* L.I.N.K.S. High School
* Marymount Academy International[30]
* M.I.N.D. High School
* Rosemount High School[31]
* Royal West Academy
* Vincent Massey Collegiate[32]
* Westmount High School[33]
* Focus High School
* Options High School
* Outreach High School
* Perspectives I High School
* Perspectives II High School[34]
* Programme Mile-End High School
* Venture High School
* Vezina High School

### Social Affairs Schools

[edit]

* Cité des Prairies
* Elizabeth High School
* Mackay Centre School
* Montreal Children's Hospital
* Mountainview School Project Centre
* Philip E. Layton School
* Sir Mortimer B. Davis School

### Adult and Vocational Education Centres

[edit]

* Galileo Adult Education Centre
* The HSM Adult Education Centre
* James Lyng Adult Education Centre
* John F. Kennedy Adult Education Centre
* Wagar Adult Education Centre
* Saint-Laurent Adult Education Centre
* Laurier Macdonald Vocational Centre
* Rosemount Technology Centre
* Shadd Health and Business Centre
* St. Pius X Career Centre

## References

[edit]

* Canada portal
* Schools portal

1. ^ Anjou, Montréal-Nord, Outremont, Saint-Laurent, Saint-Léonard, Ville-Marie, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension, Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles, Plateau-Mont-Royal and Sud-Ouest

1. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". English Montreal School Board. 2010. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
2. ^ "About Our Board". www.emsb.qc.ca.
3. ^ "Our Territory". www.emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
4. ^ "Home (English)". English Montreal School Board. Retrieved 2022-09-05. "6000 Fielding Avenue Montreal, QC H3X 1T4"
5. ^ "GAZETTE OFFICIELLE DU QUÉBEC. 14 julliet 1979. Il le année. n° 28" (Archive). p. 7030 (PDF p. 88/172). "The Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal 6000. avenue Fielding Montréal (Que.) H3X 1T4"
6. ^ "About Our Board". www.emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
7. ^ "EMSB Home." Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal. April 22, 1999. Retrieved on March 22, 2011.
8. ^ "Un effet direct de la loi 101". April 2017. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
9. ^ Ciamarra, Nadine; Lamarre, Patricia (September 2023). Decline of Enrolment in Quebec's English-Language School Sector (PDF) (Report). QUESCREN. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
10. ^ Branswell, Brenda (8 October 2014). "High-profile candidates compete for chairperson job at EMSB in school board elections". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 2015-01-19. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
11. ^ Goudreault, Zacharie. "Deux élus d'English-Montréal ont déjà été suspendus à la suite de plaintes en matière d'éthique" (in French). No. 27 November 2024. Le Devoir. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
12. ^ Kelly, Amanda. "Montreal-area English school board election results". Global News. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
13. ^ "EMSB cuts ties with South Korean recruiter linked to controversy". CBC News. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
14. ^ Henriquez, Gloria (24 April 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: Former teacher worried about quality of education at EMSB, LBPSB - Montreal | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
15. ^ Gyulai, Linda (16 December 2016). "Recruiter earning millions from Quebec school boards to bring in Chinese students". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
16. ^ Leclair, Anne (16 October 2019). "Preliminary report reveals mismanagement of funds at English Montreal School Board - Montreal | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
17. ^ "EMSB management under investigation for alleged mismanagement, ethical violations". CTV News. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
18. ^ Authier, Philip (16 November 2019). "Interview: Marlene Jennings pledges to bring good governance back to the EMSB, says board can be saved". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
19. ^ Feith, Jesse (20 September 2019). "EMSB has highest Quebec public school board success rate, new stats show". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
20. ^ "School board vows to disregard Quebec bill restricting religious symbols". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
21. ^ "English Montreal School Board denies Quebec nation sparks Bloc's outrage". CTV News Montreal. Ottawa. 7 September 2021. Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
22. ^ "Director General". www.emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
23. ^ "Senior Management & Departments". www.emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
24. ^ "Edinburgh". edinburghschool.org. Archived from the original on 16 October 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
25. ^ "École primaire Hampstead Elementary School". www.emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
26. ^ "Académie John Caboto Academy". www.emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
27. ^ "École Pierre de Coubertin School". www.emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
28. ^ "École Royal Vale School". www.royalvale.emsb.qc.ca.
29. ^ "Lester B. Pearson High School". www.emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
30. ^ "Marymount Academy Index". www.emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
31. ^ "École Secondaire Rosemount High School". www.emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
32. ^ "Vincent Massey Collegiate". emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 20 April 2018.[permanent dead link]
33. ^ "Westmount High School". emsb.qc.ca. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
34. ^ "Perspectives II". Emsb.qc.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2012-01-02.

## External links

[edit]

* EMSB website (French – English)

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