Zoila Castillo says she was confused after learning that the French immersion program at East Three Elementary School would no longer be offered next year. 

“We had no idea that was even a possibility,” said Castillo, who has two children at the school in Inuvik, N.W.T., in French. “There were absolutely no discussions with parents.” 

The school and Beaufort Delta Divisional Education Council informed families of the change in a letter dated March 30. The letter says the program is closing due to staff reductions for the 2026-27 school year and a “continued decline in enrollment in French immersion.”

“We understand that this news may be disappointing, and we want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly,” the letter reads. 

Castillo’s two children are in second and fourth grade, and have done “all of their education” in French, she says. 

The change also came as shocking news to the students, she adds. 

“My daughter told me that when they told the class, more than half of the students started crying,” said Castillo. “This group has been together since kindergarten.” 

The school says it will still have a form of French-language instruction for students who are interested: a daily 90-minute “uninterrupted” block that would cover language learning and social studies. The rest of the day would be in their homeroom class and cover other subjects in English. 

“We have kids that have learned math, science, all of that in French, and now we’re going to put them in those classes in English,” said Castillo. “They won’t be at the same level as their peers because they’ll have to relearn the vocabulary.”

She also thinks that an optional 90-minute block isn’t enough to maintain students’ French skills. 

Decision shows a ‘lack of vision’

Although French is Castillo’s second language and her husband doesn’t speak it, the couple still chose to enroll their kids in immersion classes to “broaden their horizons.” 

To them the program’s end comes down to a “lack of vision.”

Audrey Fournier, executive director of the Fédération franco-ténoise (FFT), echoes that sentiment, calling the decision a “major setback” for French in the Northwest Territories. The FFT is a Yellowknife-based organization that advocates for the interests of francophones in the territory.

Fournier adds that immersion programs are a crucial way to strengthen a francophone community by growing the number of speakers.

On Friday, the FFT issued a news release responding to the closure. 

“In communities where there is no French as first language programming, like Inuvik, the only way to access French education for francophone children is through immersion programs,” it reads, in French.

In recent months, the federal government has announced millions in investment into the community, ranging from new homes to airport improvements to upgrades to its water infrastructure. 

With so much money being injected into the community, the decision to end the immersion program is especially puzzling, say Fournier and the FFT. 

“Reducing access to French education at this time risks making it much more difficult to attract francophones,” reads the news release. 

Castillo and her partner have written letters to N.W.T. MP Rebecca Alty and Caitlin Cleveland, the territory’s minister of education. They’ve also issued a formal complaint with the territory’s languages commissioner. 

The Beaufort Delta Education Council did not respond to Radio-Canada’s interview requests.