A bit of history

In the spring of 1939, Mr. Benoît Brouillette and his wife Louise begin exploring the possibility of opening a French school for girls.

In September 1939, the Collège Marie de France opens its doors at 3666, rue Sainte-Famille. Mrs. Brouillette, along with her husband and a few other teachers, begin educating a dozen pupils.

In 1942, the school moves to 4911, chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges. The student body is made up of 40 students.

In 1946, the Collège Marie de France moves to 4635, chemin Queen-Mary.

In 1950, Mrs. Brouillette resigns as headmistress. Two hundred and fifty students are now enrolled at Marie de France.

In 1954, 1955, and again 1967, the school expands its facilities by adding new classrooms, a cafeteria and gymnasium, and science labs in order to accomodate an ever-increasing student body (1,093 students enrolled in 1975).

In 1971, male students are admitted for the first year. The school thus becomes co-ed.

In 1984, the Collège Marie de France begins to raise funds for the construction a primary school which will be opened in August 1986. The campus, as it exists today, is now completed.

1989 School Year...the Collège Marie de France celebrates its 50th year of existence. The school’s reputation for academic excellence is recognized in France and in Quebec.

In November 2004, the Collège Marie de France becomes the Collège international Marie de France and continues to this day to be a globally-minded institution. The school currently has an enrollment of over 1,800 students and boasts 68 different nationalities. Marie de France is recognized for the quality of its curriculum, its goal to turn out well-rounded graduates, and the high level of its educational programs. It is its student body, however, which speaks best for the quality of its curriculum.
In the beginning of June of 2005, the Collège international Marie de France sets out once again to expand its campus. In order to make room for an ever-increasing student population, the school is compelled to consider adding on to existing buildings. The board of governors organize a building committee which will be made up of the executive committee, school administrators, the head of maintenance, and an engineer. After consulting students and staff between January and March 2004 as to how best to expand current facilities, a synthesis of their responses is sent to the building committee in April 2004.

May 1st, 2006: Ribbon-cutting ceremony. Students, faculty, staff, and partents present the history of the school from 1939 to the present. The presentation highlights the different expansion and construction projects as well as the creation of the primary school.

In 2009, the Collège international Marie de France is known for:

- Excellence in science with enrichment programs in mathematics and physics (based on Quebec college entrance requirements)

- A strong English language program with students placed into groups (regular, intermediate, and advanced) according to their level. Italian classes are offered beginning in primary school and Spanish is taught beginning in 6ième. Intensive English-language instruction is offered in CM1 & CM2 and certain première and terminale-level students choose to take the American AP (Advanced Placement) examinations.

- Its cultural programs. The creativity of our students is expressed through the numerous concerts, recitals, shows, and plays (in English, Italian, Spanish, and French) put on throughout the year. Moreover, seconde-level students (two hours a week) and première and terminale students enrolled in the literary section (five hours a week) are able to take “Art History.”