9359 67A Street, Edmonton
Escuela Latinoamericana Gabriela Mistral has been an important place for the Latin American community in Edmonton since 1987. The school aims to share Latin American culture and offer Spanish language classes for Latin Americans as well as non-Latin Americans living in Edmonton. Today, the school is located inside Braemar School.
Escuela Latinoamericana Gabriel Mistral was founded in 1987 by a group of parents and teachers in the Edmonton’s Latin American community who were determined to maintain the Spanish language and cultures of Latin America alive in this city. The school is named after Gabriela Mistral, a Chilean poet, primary school teacher and Nobel Prize winner (1945). The founders of the school were committed to maintaining the diversity of political ideologies and philosophies, of the religions, and of the cultural traditions that characterize Latin America. Today, this commitment continues to be a priority.
The school was initially located in Prince Rupert Elementary School and later moved to John A. McDougall School and then Sacred Heart School. Today it is located at 9359 67A Street in Braemar School. Though initially the majority of the teachers at the school were Chilean, today the teachers have roots in various countries in Latin America and students are children of both Spanish-speaking parents as well as non-Spanish speaking parents. Escuela Latinoamericana Gabriela Mistral offers four levels of Spanish language classes for adults, Spanish language classes for children and youth from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 that have been approved by Alberta Education, and Spanish language classes for businesses. Additionally, students are offered opportunities to participate in cultural events that allow them to learn about the various cultures that comprise Latin America in tandem with their Spanish-language learning.
Esculea Latinoamericana Gabriela Mistral has also been significant to the Latin American community in Edmonton because it paved the way for the many Spanish bilingual schools that exist in the public and Catholic boards. These schools include, Grandin School, Father Leo Green School, and Mill Creek School. The Edmonton Public School Board was the first school district in Alberta to introduce a Spanish bilingual program.
Era: City Modern
Themes:
Education
Cultural Groups:
Latin American
Area:
Southeast