Compare International Schools in Saint-Jacques, Canada

Collège Esther-Blondin

Instructs in French

Fees CA$5,070

Pupils 1372

Type Co-educational

Collège Esther-Blondin is a private Francophone secondary school in Saint-Jacques-de-Montcalm, Quebec, offering the Canadian curriculum alongside the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP). The campus centers on a main building together with dedicated sports, culture and science facilities. The school dates to 1949 and has a long tradition of welcoming day students and boarders since the late 1990s. In Grade 7, students follow program-specific curricula with Schedule A for profile programs and Schedule B for Sport-Études and sport concentrations, providing a clear path for language, mathematics, science, social studies, arts and physical education. The Culture Pavilion houses Salle Julie-Pothier, a 532-seat professional theatre, while the Stade Phénix sports complex offers a 6,700 m2 space for matches and community events. Notable facilities include a Zone 3D fabrication lab and a heritage centre. Extracurriculars include theatre, jazz, reading clubs, student government and Génies en herbe, complementing academic study with leadership and creativity.

Location

101, rue Sainte-Anne, Saint-Jacques, Quebec, J0K 2R0. The school is a private secondary school located in Saint-Jacques. A school bus service is available via the Centre de services scolaire des Samares, with routes to the Épiphanie, Repentigny, Le Gardeur, L'Assomption, Terrebonne, Mascouche, Blainville, Lorraine, and Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines.

Stages

Secondary school (Grades 7–11). Admissions are for 2e through 5e secondaire.

Type

Private secondary school

Additional learning support

Student support services and orthopedagogical support are available.

Country affiliation

Canada

Religious affiliation

Catholic, associated with the Sisters of Sainte-Anne

Bus service

Transport scolaire available to the territory of the Centre de services scolaire des Samares and to most sectors of nearby towns including L'Épiphanie, Repentigny, Le Gardeur, L'Assomption, Terrebonne, Mascouche, Blainville, Lorraine, and Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines.

Application fees

- Study-of-file (application) fee: CAD 50 (payable to process the admission file).
- Registration (inscription) fee: CAD 200 — non‑refundable (applies to returning and new students).

Annual tuition (2026–2027)

- Standard tuition for the 2026–2027 academic year: CAD 5,070 per student, per school year (applies to secondary 1 through secondary 5).
- Sibling discounts on tuition:
- Two children from the same parents attending simultaneously: 5% discount on the second child's tuition.
- Three or more children from the same parents attending simultaneously: 5% discount on the second child's tuition and 20% discount on the third child and each subsequent child.

Tuition — payment breakdowns and per‑installment examples

- Payment schedules offered by the school: one annual payment (due 1 September), three instalments (due 1 September, 1 January and 1 March), monthly payments, or payments every two weeks. The full account must be paid by 1 June of the attendance year.
- Examples for the CAD 5,070 annual tuition (amounts shown are equal divisions of the annual tuition for illustration because the school provides the payment schedule but does not publish fixed per‑installment figures):
- Annual payment (single): CAD 5,070 due 1 September.
- Three instalments (Sept / Jan / Mar): CAD 1,690 per instalment (CAD 5,070 ÷ 3). (This is a straightforward equal-split calculation of the annual tuition; the school's published schedule specifies the three dates but does not publish exact instalment amounts.)
- Monthly or biweekly payments: these options are offered, but the school does not publish a set number of monthly or biweekly instalments on the public fee page; per‑payment amounts will depend on the number of instalments agreed at enrolment.

Program‑specific fees (annual amounts where shown)

- Option — Music: CAD 475.
- Option — Arts plastiques: CAD 90.
- Option — Art dramatique: CAD 85.
- Cours d'entrepreneuriat: CAD 70.
- Concentration sportive — Basketball: CAD 1,250.
- Programme à profils — Citoyen du monde: approximately CAD 440.
- Programme à profils — Curiosité technologique: approximately CAD 600.
- Concentration sportive — Soccer: CAD 1,850.
- Programme Sport‑études: fees vary according to the program's mandataire (external operator).
- Programme — Multisports: CAD 875.
- Concentration sportive — Danse: CAD 2,635.
- Programme — Arts visuels: CAD 1,125.
- Concentration sportive — Hockey scolaire (M13, M15, M18): CAD 5,100.

All program‑specific fees above apply in addition to the standard annual tuition.

Other mandatory and variable costs

- Mandatory accessory fees: CAD 375 (annual).
- Maintenance and infrastructure fee: CAD 255 (annual).
- Integration activities for 1re secondaire: CAD 175.
- Consolidation activities for 5e secondaire: CAD 180.
- Uniform (Collection vestimentaire — Collections Unimage): cost variable according to selected items and size/growth of the pupil.
- Textbooks and workbooks: variable by grade.
- Personal portable electronic device (school‑required specifications): cost borne by the family.
- Fees for certain optional courses and extracurricular activities: variable depending on the course or activity.
- Transport scolaire (school bus) — examples of annual rates listed:
- Territory of the Centre de services scolaire des Samares: CAD 1,680.
- Other sectors served (L'Épiphanie, Repentigny, Le Gardeur, L'Assomption, Terrebonne, Lachenaie, La Plaine, Mascouche, Blainville, Lorraine): CAD 1,840.
- If a student is registered to two daily transport addresses, the more expensive route is charged at 100% and an additional surcharge of CAD 516 is added for the second address (service subject to availability).
- Transport to sport‑training locations for Sport‑études and other off‑site activities: variable.
- Fees for sport, artistic or cultural extracurricular activities: variable by nature of the activity, competition level and required equipment.

Boarding / residential accommodation fees

- Collège Esther‑Blondin does not operate a boarding/internat program for students; therefore boarding fees are not applicable. (The school's published materials focus on day‑school enrolment and associated services such as school transport.)

Refund information

- The registration (frais d'inscription) of CAD 200 is explicitly noted as non‑refundable.
- The admission study fee of CAD 50 is charged to process the file; refund terms for that study fee are not specified on the public admission page.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Available billing schedules: single annual payment (due 1 September), three instalments (1 September, 1 January, 1 March), monthly payments, or payments every two weeks.
- The account must be fully paid by 1 June of the attendance year.
- Tuition payments are not subject to issuance of tax receipts for tuition (the school notes that tuition fees are not eligible for tax receipts).

Fee payment methods and contacts

- The school's public fee pages specify available payment schedules but do not list the exact electronic or banking payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, Interac, etc.). For confirmation of accepted payment methods and to arrange a chosen instalment plan, contact the admissions office: admin@collegeblondin.qc.ca or Tel: 450‑839‑3672 (admissions: poste 2143).

Uniform Requirement

The Collège Esther-Blondin requires a school uniform for all students. Bottoms are navy or black pants or a skirt/tennis dress worn with navy, black, or white tights; Bermuda shorts may be worn without tights only from April 1 to October 31. Tops include short- or long-sleeve polo shirts, rugby-style sweaters, pullovers, and cardigans worn inside or outside the bottom; shoes must be dark with a maximum heel height of 5 cm; hats are not allowed indoors. Logoed items are available via the Unimage and Phenix collections, and other logo-free pieces are permitted.

Food Options

Cafeteria offers a variety of daily meals. LP Traiteur provides breakfast service and a daily hot menu including soup, juice, a main course and a dessert, plus an à la carte selection. Payment is accepted by cash, credit or debit cards, or prepaid cards; the cafeteria is a social hub featuring a centerpiece piano.

Governance and Ownership

The Collège Esther-Blondin is governed by a Board of Directors. The President is Sylvain Brabant; the Vice-President is Nathalie Ayotte; the Secretary-Treasurer is Yannic Constantineau; Administrators are Jean-Michel Frédérick, Olivier Sylvestre, Delphine Siblot and Gilbert Massé.

Curriculum

Collège Esther-Blondin provides private French-language secondary education. In Grade 7 (premie8re secondaire), the curriculum is organized by program type: profile programs and specialized programs. The daily schedule uses two timetables: Schedule A for profile programs, PEI, multisports, and visual arts; Schedule B for Sport-Études and sport concentrations. Core subjects include French (language of instruction), English (base and enriched tracks), Mathematics, Quebec culture and citizenship, Geography, History, Science and Technology, Physical Education and Health, Visual Arts or Dramatic Arts, Music, Technological Curiosity, World Citizenship, Multisports, and Sports. The first-year curriculum is presented in a subject grid by program, titled Grille des Matières par Programme 9 Première secondaire, illustrating hours per 18-day cycle and the distribution of subjects across the program types.

Exam Results

Year after year, the school
0s results reflect the success of its students and confirm Colle8ge Esther-Blondina0s standing as an exceptional educational institution in the Lanaudie8re region.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The college places engagement, rigour, collaboration and personal growth at the heart of its approach. It offers a profile program that helps students flourish by developing social and technological skills. The school maintains a welcoming, dynamic and safe environment where educators support each student with care and high expectations. A culture of social development and teamwork is fostered through school life activities and a focus on student well-being.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Admission is based on the review of the last two years of report cards and, when applicable, on adaptive measures in place for the student. Each candidacy is analyzed with attention to needs and resources the college can provide to promote success and integration. A math help centre operates regularly to give students the opportunity to interact with teachers. The college provides accommodations and supports for students with adaptation or learning difficulties in line with EHDAA guidelines, and follows a local policy for evaluating learning progress to guide supports.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The college teaches English as an additional language with two tracks: the base program and the enriched program.

Mental Wellbeing

A prevention and intervention plan against bullying and violence protects student well-being and maintains a safe school climate. A welcoming, secure environment is supported by staff dedicated to student life, including a life-school coordinator who oversees student life and transport.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding policies include an anti-bullying and violence prevention plan and EHDAA supports for students with adaptation or learning needs, guided by an accompanying EHDAA guide. The college also applies a local policy for evaluating learning to tailor supports.

History

Founded in 1949, Collège Esther-Blondin is a private Francophone secondary school rooted in a tradition of excellence and oriented toward the 21st century. The Sisters of Saint Anne established education in Saint-Jacques-de-Montcalm in 1853, and the government officially recognized the Saint-Jacques school on March 3, 1930. In 1970, after the dissolution of the family institutes, the institution became the Institut Esther-Blondin and offered a Ministry-regulated secondary program, joining private girls' secondary schools and welcoming boarders and day students. In 1996 the Institut Esther-Blondin changed its name to Collège Esther-Blondin; in 1997 it became Lanaudière's first private school to offer the International Education program, and coeducation began in 1998. From 2009 onward, major expansions included the Culture Pavilion with Salle Julie-Pothier (inaugurated February 22, 2012) and the Stade Phénix (inaugurated June 16, 2022), after which the college remained rooted in its tradition of excellence while advancing into the 21st century.

Community

Collège Esther-Blondin offers a broad range of cultural, artistic, and community activities, including Génies en herbe; a Reading Club and Manga; a Theatre program with shows and galas; Young Leaders; Graduation Committees; FillActives; and the L'Expression student newspaper. Students participate in Student Government and thematic weeks (Halloween, Noël, and Saint-Valentin), along with integration camps, music camps, Camp Rouge, Harmonies and the Jazz Band, Secondary in Show, and winter outings. Level-based trips are organized to Quebec City, Ottawa/Kingston, Toronto, and Saguenay/Charlevoix, with an overseas trip for 3e–5e secondaire and a community-service travel option every two years in the spring.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Did you know there is a Parents Committee that represents the parents of our school? At the committee meetings, members can be informed and exchange with a member of the school's leadership, the student government president, and other staff representatives when needed. They can provide comments and questions about school life or parent concerns. They are consulted by the administration on various topics and have the opportunity to enable the realization of several projects or activities by contributing the sum of parental dues collected at the start of the year. The committee's work supports school life and parent involvement.

Facilities Overview

The Collège Esther-Blondin campus centers on a main building complemented by dedicated sports, culture and academic facilities. A 1973 expansion added a sports complex with a gymnasium, a three-court gym, a semi-Olympic swimming pool, athletics tracks and tennis courts. In 2009, a major extension added a weight room to the sports pavilion, connected to the main building by an underground passage, and modernized the cafeteria; a Culture Pavilion with a theatre and music and drama classrooms was built and linked to the main pavilion by an exterior walkway. In 2012 the Culture Pavilion opened with Salle Julie-Pothier, a 532-seat professional theatre. In 2015 the main building gained a Centre historique et éducatif, a permanent heritage and educational centre. In 2017 the Zone 3D, a fabrication laboratory, was inaugurated in the chapel area, the first of its kind in the region. The Stade Phénix, a 6,700 m2 sports complex with a synthetic surface that measures 50 by 100 metres and can be divided into three playing fields, opened after a lengthy construction project and hosts matches and community events.

Sports Facilities

The Pavillon des sports includes a three-court gymnasium, a fitness room, an indoor pool, an outdoor basketball court with a synthetic surface, a golf practice room in the winter season, and a weight room. Our versatile surfaces can host a variety of sports, from basketball to volleyball, including futsal, badminton, spinning, cosom hockey and more.

Academic Facilities

The library has been enlarged and modernized, and the computer laboratories have been updated. The residence wing was transformed into the science wing with three ultramodern laboratories, two science classrooms and a preparation room. In December 2013 the chapel was converted into techno-pedagogical spaces. In 2017 the Zone 3D fabrication lab was opened for use by students and teachers across disciplines. The Culture Pavilion houses music and drama classrooms and Salle Julie-Pothier, a professional-grade theatre within the complex.

Extra Curricular Facilities

Geniuses in the making; Reading Club and Manga; Reading Club; Theatre, performances and galas; Young Leaders; Graduation Committees; FillActives; Midday sports; Student newspaper L'Expression; Student Government; Theme weeks: Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day; Integration camps, music camps, Camp Rouge; Harmonies and the Jazz Band; Secondary in Show; Winter outings.

Academic & Intellectual

Programme à profils develops social and technological skills to help students flourish and awaken their curiosity. Sport-Études program offers an exceptional opportunity that blends athletic excellence and self-discipline. Concentrations sportives bring together determination and training, turning each discipline into an opportunity to grow and shine. These programs support a personalized learning path.

Arts & Creative

Programme arts visuels explores artistic expression, brings vision to life, and creates a visually captivating future. Theatre, performances and galas offer opportunities to engage in dramatic arts. Harmonies and Jazz Band contribute to the school's musical life.

Cultural & Language

Génies en herbe (Geniuses in the Making) and reading clubs including Manga Club and Reading Club are offered. The college also hosts theatre, shows, galas, and thematic weeks such as Halloween, Christmas and Saint-Valentin, along with trips. These activities foster cultural engagement through artistic and communal events.

Social & Hobbies

The College offers a range of student activities that enrich life outside class and foster social connections and hobbies. Activities include a student newspaper, L'Expression, Reading Club, Manga Club, theatre, and midday sports. The life of the campus is animated by various clubs and events beyond core classes.

Leadership & Professional

Gouvernement des élèves (Student Government) provides a structured platform for student leadership. Jeunes Leaders and the Graduation Committees (Comités des finissants) offer leadership roles, while the Programme Leadership supports professional development. These structures promote citizenship, initiative, and student involvement across the College.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Programme multisports cultivates physical fitness and a passion for an active, balanced life through exposure to a variety of sports. Sport-Études offers an exceptional blend of athletic excellence and discipline. Concentrations sportives pair determination with training, turning each sport into an opportunity to grow and shine.

Admissions

1. Admission at Collège Esther-Blondin is based on the analysis of the student's report cards from the last two years and, where applicable, on adaptive measures in place for the student. Each candidacy is analyzed individually and with care. If your child benefits from an intervention plan, an aid plan, or other special measures, the file is analyzed in collaboration with the school team. We assess the student's needs based on the measures and resources the College can offer to support their success and integration. 2. First year of secondary admission: fill the online admission form; attach the final report cards from the last two school years; if your child benefits from support measures, attach all relevant documents to allow a complete analysis; pay the 50 $ processing fee for the file review. Admission is finalized with the successful passage from elementary to secondary. 3. Admission verdict transmitted by email: 1) Application accepted; 2) Application placed on the waiting list (personalized follow-ups are made when spaces become available); 3) Application refused. 4. Accepted application: Enrollment becomes official when all registration documents are returned to the College. Required documents include the registration form, the transportation form, the original birth certificate, and payment of the $200 non-refundable registration fee. 5. For any questions, contact Ms. Julie Perron in the admissions service at (450) 839-3672 extension 2143 or by email at JPerron@collegeblondin.qc.ca.

Scholarships

Foundation: For more than 75 years, the Collège Esther-Blondin Foundation has pursued its educational mission to provide a quality education that awakens and develops the potential of each student. The Foundation has two main axes of support: (1) to enable access for students whose financial resources are limited, and (2) to support the College's educational mission and the development of its programs. Projects have included providing financial aid to families through bursaries, improving College facilities, coordinating activities for alumni, and collaborating on projects such as the Pavilion of Culture / Salle Julie-Pothier, Stade Phénix, Fablab, and musical instruments. The Foundation organizes fundraising events and activities annually. Families in financial difficulty can submit a request for financial aid to the Foundation. To discuss your situation and submit an application, contact Ms. Stéphanie Duquette by email at SDuquette@collegeblondin.qc.ca. Address: 101, rue Sainte-Anne, Saint-Jacques, Québec, J0K 2R0; admin@collegeblondin.qc.ca; 450-839-3672.

Waitlist

Waitlist: Applications may be placed on the waiting list when there are no available spaces. The College conducts personalized follow-ups as spaces become available.

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