Quebec Mennonites Move To Ontario

Mennonite families from Roxton Falls are moving to Ontario, after their community school was deemed illegal by the Quebec government. Unlike Quebec, Ontario gives private schools more freedom when it comes to choosing the curriculum and the teachers. The province has 69 Mennonite schools that host about 3,300 children - so there will be enough room for the Mennonite children from Roxton Falls.

Yet the Mennonite families still hope they will eventually be able to come back.

He hasn't sold his home. Neither have the other families who have moved to Ontario to join another Mennonite congregation. They hope a deal can be reached with the Quebec government to reopen the school, located in the church building.

"We think that having freedom of religion grants us the right to have our own school. Across the rest of Canada and the U.S., it's been granted to us. So we're hoping to receive the same thing here like we have in other provinces," he said. "If the right is granted to us to continue having our own school, then we'll move back."

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Definitely, the situation can't be left as it is. If Quebec government is allowed to crack down on independent schools, it may trigger a chain reaction in other provinces. If we want to preserve our right to educate our children in the manner we see fit, we must offer Roxton Falls Mennonite community all the help they need.