École Rudolf Steiner de Montréal

Our History

1976 - A small, English-speaking group of parents studying Anthroposophy groups together to form “Friendship for Waldorf Education” hosting workshops and seminars. Gradually, French-speaking parents join the group and together they form an association.

1978 - The association becomes “l’Association pour le Pédagogie Waldorf au Québec” (A.P.W.Q.) and in September, the first Waldorf nursery school opens as “l’Eau Vive”.

1980 - École Rudolf Steiner de Montréal (ERSM) opens with its 1st grade. The nursery school “l’Eau Vive” is legally integrated as a new not-for-profit organization. The kindergarten now has two groups.

1985 - The school grows in enrollment and adds a new grade each year. French-speaking Waldorf teachers join the school and it expands to include 7th & 8th grades. The school moves to avenue Bois de Boulogne.

1986 - By hosting annual Waldorf conferences, interest grows for the pedagogy. With the addition of the 8th grade, enrollment grows to an unprecedented 225 students.

1993 - The school has to move and finds a space in Côte-St-Luc, in a building surrounded by tranquility and expansive grounds. The desire to expand the grades to include high school levels of 9th -12th is seriously explored.

1996 - The school obtains the permit to offer high school levels and opens grades 9 & 10. Specialized teachers join the school and design the high school program.

2001 - The financial support of the school as well as the search for French-speaking, Waldorf-trained teachers becomes an overwhelming challenge for parents.

2004 - Enrollment is not sufficient and the school is forced to close the high school. Because of parent and community involvement and action, the school maintains its elementary and pre-school classes. In June, the Minister of Education grants subsidies for the elementary level.

2007 - ERSM finds a permanent location in the previous Fraser-Hickson Library at 4855 Kensington Ave in NDG. Parents, friends and community all contribute financially to allow the school to buy the building.

2009 - Enrollment grows once again. The school opens a second kindergarten class (ages 4 & 5) and a new pre-school group of 3 year-olds. The expansion grows slowly with the financial burden of keeping the new location becoming a major challenge.

2010 - Enrollment increases and the community mobilizes to stay in its building.

2012 - The fundraising campaign "Growing our roots" is a success.  The community bands together to raise over $120,000 in 3 weeks!