I realize my only knowledge of Prince Edward Island comes from reading all the Anne of Green Gables books as a child (not a bad way to know a place, really.) I had no idea that it has had a huge influx of Buddhist monks and nuns. Now they’re opening an immersion school. That will give us five religious Mandarin immersion schools in North America, two Catholic – All Souls in Los Angeles and Maryknoll in Honolulu and two non-denominational – Reid Temple Christian Academy in Maryland and Zeeland Christian School in Michigan.  

Beth

New Chinese-English school planned for P.E.I.

Leader of P.E.I. monks, nuns behind new school launching next fall

The latest venture of the P.E.I. monks’ religious leader is a new, private school in which students will learn in both Mandarin and English, planned to open next fall.

Buddhist monks on P.E.I. have built extensive facilities on the Island, while at the same time an influx of Chinese immigrants to P.E.I. in the last few years means Mandarin is the main immigrant language spoken on P.E.I., as it is in the rest of Canada.

“If you’re interested in being a global citizen, it would be a language that would be very beneficial to you,” said Derek McEwen, the CEO of HOPE International Education Foundation, who will also be the school’s principal. McEwen worked as a teacher and principal for years and was director of English curriculum for P.E.I.’s Department of Education.

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