Mr. Jean Doyon (centre; blue), retiring principal at École La Prairie in Red Deer, was the guest of honour at a soccer game on Saturday. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

merci beaucoup!

Longtime principal at Red Deer’s École La Prairie retiring, receives thanks from Cameroonian, Moroccan communities

Jun 15, 2024 | 5:01 PM

A retiring school principal in Red Deer was given the honour of a farewell soccer match on Saturday by the local Cameroonian and Moroccan communities.

Jean Doyon has been principal at École La Prairie for the last 14 years, and is ready to sail off into the sunset in a couple weeks. Prior to heading the Francophone school in Red Deer, Doyon taught for a decade in Rocky Mountain House.

As Doyon explained prior to the friendly, there’s a strong connection between the school and the aforementioned communities because many in those countries, especially Cameroon, speak French.

As those communities have grown in Red Deer, so has the number of their children who go to École La Prairie, as it offers one easier way to integrate.

“I’ve had the pleasure to work with a lot of these parents, who organized the game, over the years, from the Cameroonian community especially. About 10 years ago, that community really exploded, so their kids come here with French as a first language and we have provided them the opportunity to continue learning that way,” says Doyon.

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“The word is out that our school is here to welcome them and to provide them the option for their kids to study in French, but learn English as well.”

Doyon says a lot of myths exist as it relates to Francophone schools, such as students not learning English, or not being prepared for post-secondary and entering the workforce.

In reality, all students at École La Prairie graduate bilingual, he says, and are more than prepared.

“Having a good principal is important for your child, and the parent too, because school is not only at school, but also at home. We need good collaboration between school and home, and Mr. Doyon has been very collaborative,” says Armand Fonga, spokesperson for the Cameroonian Association of Central Alberta.

“When we have a new member coming, he is very helpful in terms of integration and showing us how things work.”

For Doyon, his term in Red Deer began somewhat out of necessity as there was no French Immersion in Rocky Mountain House for his children to attend.

“Being a principal and teacher here has meant a lot. It was a big change coming to Red Deer, and also moving to a new school district and teaching French in a minority setting,” says Doyon, who is from Québec, and studied at both l’Université de Sherbrooke and l’Université Laval.

He noted his pride too in helping Red Deer be welcoming for newcomers.

“These families come here and just want their kids to succeed. Part of that is learning English, and students do learn English here, but we also preserve their language and culture,” he says. “We’re very diverse in our school population in terms of students and staff. We’re kind of a representation of what Alberta is becoming as far as a multicultural community that’s open to everybody.”

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