Honourable colleagues, it is with great pleasure that I inform you of the inauguration of the French school Claudette-et-Denis-Tardif, in Sherwood Park, Alberta, last Friday.

The Franco-Albertan community has been waiting a long time for this school, which is named after our honourable colleague, Senator Claudette Tardif and her husband, Denis. The school presently has 87 students and hundreds of new students are expected to register in the next few years.

I know that we would all like to congratulate our honourable colleague for this well-deserved honour. It is not by chance that this community, which lobbied hard for a French school, chose to name it in honour of such active and devoted leaders.

It is not surprising that a school so named is looking to the future and already planning its expansion. I am convinced that it will educate a new generation of proud francophones. Its students will not have to look far to find their role models.

Honourable Senator Tardif, I congratulate and thank you. This honour demonstrates the extent to which senators can help and inspire their communities. Long live École Claudette-et-Denis-Tardif!