Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

The Lab-École Gatineau was officially inaugurated June 9, marking a defining step in Quebec’s
evolving approach to educational spaces. Located within Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary
School in the Hull sector of Gatineau, this latest addition to the Lab-École network represents a
major $35 million investment in the province’s commitment to designing schools that are not
only functional, but transformative.

The Lab-École initiative, launched several years ago by chef Ricardo Larrivée, athlete Pierre
Lavoie, and architect Pierre Thibault, aims to rethink how schools can better serve children’s
academic, social, and emotional needs. With a focus on physical well-being, architectural
openness, and healthy eating habits, the Gatineau school becomes the sixth such project to
reach completion, following similar sites in Québec City, Saguenay, Maskinongé, Shefford, and
Rimouski.

Designed by DMArchitects through a public competition, the expansion includes 35 classrooms,
two gyms, a teaching kitchen, eight collaborative spaces, and a central agora—an open, multi-
use hub with tiered seating that links both floors of the school. The building prioritizes natural
light, open spaces, and flexibility, with the goal of fostering engagement, creativity, and a
stronger sense of community among students.

Education Minister Bernard Drainville recognized the new facility as a symbol of the
government’s ambition to modernize Quebec’s outdated school infrastructure. “We know that
the environment in which our students evolve impacts their motivation and academic success,”
he said. “I am very proud of our investment in this project.”

Other speakers echoed this sentiment, including Suzanne Tremblay, MNA for Hull, who
reflected on her years as a teacher in windowless classrooms. “A school is more than walls and
classrooms—it’s a living environment,” she said. Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette described
the project as “a model that should be replicated,” praising its blend of educational purpose,
architectural excellence, and community integration.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School has served the Gatineau community since 2002 and
now hosts over 530 students, offering programmes in French Immersion and outdoor education.
With an emphasis on active learning, wellness, and inclusion, the Lab-École Gatineau is
intended not only to meet current educational needs, but to serve as a beacon for what schools
in Quebec—and across Canada—might look like in the future. The co-founders of the initiative,
who marked the occasion with reflections on the eight-year journey to this point, issued a
collective call to continue the work of rethinking schools as vital spaces for growth, community,
and possibility.​

“What once felt impossible now stands as a shining example of what’s possible—made real
through hard work, creativity, and ingenuity,” said Joanne Labadie, Chairperson of the Western
Québec School Board.

Photo: Lab-École Gatineau was inaugurated as a flagship example of Quebec’s new school
model, combining modern architecture, wellness-focused design, and community engagement
to enhance student learning and well-being. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo