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Imagine going to work without any traffic jams. Or being able to enjoy walks in nature just a few minutes from home, every day. In Saguenay, this reality could be yours. Living in Saguenay means having the opportunity to realize your full potential in an environment where everyday simplicity exists in perfect harmony with safety and well-being. Doesn’t that sound like the dream? Read our blog post to discover all the good reasons to choose Saguenay as your new home!
Children and school
Enrolling your child in school
In Saguenay, like everywhere in Quebec, all children ages 6 to 16 must be enrolled in school. No matter what time of year you arrive in Saguenay, there will be a place for your children in school.
In general, preschool begins at the ages of 4 or 5 with kindergarten (noncompulsory), depending on the school. Children then study at elementary school from Grade 1 to Grade 6.
Once they’ve completed elementary school, young people move on to secondary school (also called high school) around the age of 12. Secondary education is spread over 5 years, from Secondary 1 to Secondary 5.
Each school serves a well-defined area or zone, so your place of residence will determine which school your child will attend. Therefore, to enroll your child in school, you can contact the school service centres that serve the Saguenay:
- Centre de services scolaire des Rives-du-Saguenay(in french only)
- Centre de services scolaires De la Jonquière(in french only)
In elementary and secondary school, some schools offer special programs that alternate with studies so that children can develop their full potential. There are programs for everyone, whether your child likes sports or art, and whether they want to learn a new language or expand their computer skills. Check with the schools to find out what’s available (fees apply). There are also English-speaking schools such as the public Riverside Regional School.
Public or private school?
The Quebec school system is divided into two: the public sector and the private sector. The public sector is entirely managed by the Ministère de l’Éducation. Public education is free from preschool to secondary school.
On the other hand, private schools enjoy greater autonomy in their teaching methods and student selection (e.g. Entrance exam, quality of transcript). Many offer specific programs and additional resources for more personalized support for students. However, private schools must also follow the Québec Education Program established by the Ministère de l’Éducation and use educational materials approved by the government. Please note that you will have to pay school fees to enroll your child in private school.
The Quebec school system is recognized for its quality, both private and public. The distance of the school from home, the availability of a particular program (sports studies, science, international), the variety of extracurricular activities and the feeling of belonging (friends!) are factors that can influence the choice of one school over another!
What’s more, regardless of the school you choose, you’ll need to plan for the purchase of additional school materials (pencils, notebooks, etc.) and registration fees for extracurricular activities (sports, arts, etc.).
And for lunches?
Before we begin this section, here’s a bit of essential Quebec terminology. In Quebec, the three meals are called déjeuner (breakfast), dîner (lunch) and souper (dinner or supper).
Children often stay at school during lunch break. Parents must therefore provide a meal, generally contained in a lunchbox (snack box), as well as some snacks for the day. Most of the time, the school will provide a list of lunch restrictions, particularly regarding food allergies (peanuts, tree nuts) and unhealthy foods (soda, chocolate, candy).
If you don’t have time to cook (you might have la broue dans le toupet and be very busy!), some schools offer a catering service for a fee. Ask the school for more information!
If your parental situation and proximity to the school allow it (e.g. you work remotely or stay at home), your children will be able to enjoy their lunch break at home. Once again, check with the school!
And transportation?
Not all children automatically benefit from school bus transportation. The school service centre may determine that children a certain walking distance from home (e.g. maximum 1 km) are not eligible for school transportation. It’s a great opportunity to get your children moving, since they can walk, bike or scooter to school! In most neighbourhoods, school corridors and crossing guards ensure students’ safety.
If the walking distance exceeds the maximum, the student will be transported to school free of charge in the mornings and evenings. Your child will then go to school in the famous yellow bus!
Depending on the route determined by the school, the pick-up point may be in front of the house or a short distance away on the same street. Most of the time, we ask that the student arrive at their stop 5 minutes before the scheduled time (so as not to miss the bus!).
Finally, it is possible for parents to drop off their child by car, for example if the school is located on their way to work.
What about childcare?
Sometimes parents’ work schedules require a child to arrive at school earlier or leave a little later, so that they are not home alone after class.
Most elementary schools offer school daycare before school hours (from 6:45 a.m. or 7 a.m.), during lunch hours, after school hours (until 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m.) and during PD Days, when class doesn’t take place because teachers are in training. Daycare is a paid service and fees are determined by the Ministère de l’Éducation.
During daycare, children can have fun with a variety of arts and crafts, free play, sports and schoolyard activities.
Long live the holidays!
You can’t think of school without thinking of summer vacation! Each year, students at all levels of education enjoy a summer break that lasts about two months (end of June to end of August). It’s an opportunity for children to rest and take advantage of the joys of summer.
As much as we’d all like to, not all parents can take the whole summer off. Fortunately, day camps come to the rescue! They keep children busy during the day in a safe environment. Most municipalities offer a day camp starting from the age of 5. Specialized camps (sports, arts, science, etc.) are also available. But remember: places are limited, so find out when registration opens and don’t be late when that day comes.
Each year, for the winter holiday period at the end of December, school is also closed for two weeks to allow for family celebrations.
Finally, in March, students enjoy another period off: spring break! As the name suggests, it’s an opportunity to take advantage d’un p’tit lousse, a little relaxation, to recharge before continuing the school year. This leave can take place in either the first or second week of March, depending on the school service centre.
For the little ones
If your children are too young to go to school, they can go to daycare!
In Quebec, there is a network of educational daycare services that can accommodate toddlers in different settings. Childcare centres (CPE) provide educational services in a collective living environment in addition to allowing parents to benefit from a reduced contribution (rate partially subsidized by the government; the rate is the same in all CPEs).
There are also private facility daycares, subsidized or non-subsidized, managed for profit.
Finally, family daycares, subsidized or non-subsidized, carry out their activities in a private residence. The groups are smaller, which is often more welcoming and reassuring, both for parents and children!
Regardless of the type of daycare, all daycare services must respect certain obligations issued by the government, hire staff who meet several criteria and undergo educational quality assessments.
There is no single best daycare for your child: it all depends on your circumstances and the places available near you!
How to get a spot in daycare
To get a spot in a recognized daycare, you must enroll your child on la Place 0-5 ans. This digital platform includes an interactive map that lists daycare services near you. This is also where you can register on the wait list to get a spot in daycare. To do so, you will need to create a parent account.
Small tip: complete your registration quickly so you can be added to the wait list since it operates on a first-come, first-served basis! Please note that for infants, children aged 18 months and under, places are very limited, so it’s sometimes difficult to get a place.
To find out more about daycares and daycare services, you can visit the Quebec governement website.
For older children
Are your children already grown up and ready to stand on their own two feet? Maybe they want to continue their studies in Saguenay? With its two CEGEPS, its university (UQAC) and its vocational training centres, Saguenay is a destination of choice for continuing your education!
You should first know that in Quebec, to be able to go to university, secondary school graduates must first go through the Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (General and professional teaching college), more commonly known as CEGEP.
CEGEP is a public educational institution very unique to Quebec! There are two types of training programs: pre-university training, which leads to university studies, and technical training, which leads to the practice of a technical trade, but also to university studies, if desired. College studies lead to a Diploma of College Studies (DCS, or DEC in French) or an Attestation of College Studies (AVS, or AEC in French).
People who study at CEGEP are often called Cegepians. Pre-university programs offer introductory training in certain general fields: natural sciences, humanities, arts, letters and communication. They open doors to more specific university studies later on.
Technical programs are much more specific and provide direct access to the job market once training is completed. In addition to widespread technical programs such as nursing, accounting and management or computer science, the Cégeps de Jonquière and Chicoutimi offer recognized programs specific to the needs of the regional job market. The Media Arts and Technologies (Jonquière), Industrial Processes (Jonquière), Metallurgical Engineering Technology (Chicoutimi) and Leisure Management and Intervention Techniques (Chicoutimi) programs are examples of this.
Finally, once you’re done with college studies, the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi offers graduate studies in different fields, as well as offering a trippant environment to study in.
To find out more about what makes Saguenay a great place to study, click here
Saguenay: quality of life without compromise
Like we’ve already said, Saguenay offers an exceptional quality of life. It’s a city where we find the best of both worlds: an incomparable proximity to nature and a dynamic and safe urban life. It’s the perfect place to raise your family!
In a few words, Saguenay is:
- Sports, cultural and leisure activities for the whole family, just a stone’s throw away from home
- A vast region to explore in the heart of the boreal forest and near an extraordinary fjord
- A safe environment with all the essential services for your well-being and that of your family
- Employers who balance work and personal life
- Less traffic. In Saguenay, the average commute is approximately 10 minutes. Less traffic means more family time!
It’s all very nice, isn’t it?
Fais pas simple, don’t be silly, choose Saguenay, a great place to live with family!
