Premier Pat Binns officially opened the Aubin Arsenault Building in Charlottetown this afternoon. Family of the late Judge Arsenault, members of the Francophone and Acadian community and the Honourable Jeffrey E. Lantz, Education Minister and Attorney General participated in the official opening ceremony.
"We felt it would be fitting to officially open the building during this year's French Awareness Week," said Premier Binns. "The late Aubin Arsenault is a prominent member in our Island's rich history and the Francophone and Acadian community."
Aubin-Edmond Arsenault was born in Abram-Village on July 28, 1870 and was the first Acadian to become Premier of a Canadian province. His term as Premier began in 1917 when he succeeded J.A. Mathieson, who was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. In the 1919 general election his government was defeated and Arsenault remained as Leader of the Opposition until 1921 when he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island. He retired from the High Court in 1946. Judge Arsenault died on April 29, 1968.
"As Attorney General for Prince Edward Island, I am pleased to recognize the contributions made by the late Judge Arsenault," said Minister Lantz. "His life as a lawyer, politician, Premier and Supreme Court judge was one of tremendous accomplishments."
The newly renovated building is a former nurses' residence and teaching school. That building was officially opened in 1947and served as a residence and school of nursing until 1971. The PEI School of Nursing continued to use the building as a residence until the mid-1990s.
The newly renovated building includes three meeting rooms, a computer lab and 50 offices. Staff from the Department of Education's divisions of English Programs, French Programs and Student Services are the building tenants.
Minister Lantz said the Department of Education is pleased to be the first tenant of the newly renovated building. "The meeting rooms in this building are in constant use by the education system," he said. "The building provides meeting and training space for our staff and teachers."