Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord and Collège Boréal Unveil $4 Million Project for New Soccer Field in Sudbury
June 18, 2026
The new soccer field will meet FIFA standards for international play and is expected to open in fall 2026.
Amid the excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup, Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord and Collège Boréal today unveiled a landmark joint project valued at $4 million. This unique strategic partnership between the two French-language educational institutions in Northern Ontario will see the athletic field at École secondaire Macdonald-Cartier in Sudbury completely redeveloped to meet international soccer standards.
Located between the school and the college, the modern field is scheduled to officially open this fall and will serve as a natural bridge between secondary and post-secondary education. It will provide a shared venue for elite training and competition for Macdonald-Cartier’s Panthères, Collège Boréal’s Vipères, and the wider community.
This new infrastructure will help meet growing regional demand for a sport played by approximately 250 million people worldwide. It will foster inclusion and bring the entire community closer together, particularly by providing a venue for soccer tournaments and other high-level sporting events.
The partnership also includes the creation of a new Soccer Academy at École secondaire Macdonald-Cartier. Run jointly by the school and Collège Boréal, the Academy will help shape the school’s athletic programming and provide training for coaches. It also opens the door to new collaborations involving Boréal’s sport-related post-secondary programs, including Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant, Massage Therapy, and Fitness and Health Promotion.
New Boréal Vipères teams join the OCAA
Collège Boréal is also announcing the creation of its first-ever soccer teams in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA). A talent identification camp for prospective players interested in joining the women’s and men’s Vipères teams will be held on Friday, June 26, followed by tryout camps on August 17, 19, and 21, ahead of an exhibition season beginning in September 2026.
Quotes
“We are extremely proud of this meaningful and unique partnership. It reflects the vitality of our educational institutions and will benefit students at both the secondary and post-secondary levels, as well as the entire community. This high-calibre field will be a springboard for our youth. At École secondaire Macdonald-Cartier, a culture of excellence in sport is already deeply rooted, and the new Soccer Academy will enable our students and teachers to continue striving for excellence and making their mark across Ontario.”
Carl Dussault — Director of Education, Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord
“Collège Boréal is proud of this new partnership with Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord, which strengthens the French-language education continuum for students in our region, particularly those interested in sports. With this fully renovated soccer field, our new varsity teams, the Vipères, will also be able to host their counterparts from across the province, and the Greater Sudbury community will gain a new world-class sports facility.”
Daniel Giroux — President of Collège Boréal
Quick facts
- Facilities built to international standards: The fully redeveloped field will meet FIFA standards and feature a brand-new synthetic surface, with dimensions suitable for provincial, national, and international competition.
- Increased seating capacity: Bleachers with seating for 1,000 spectators.
- Evening matches: A complete lighting system will allow matches and tournaments to be held in the evening.
- Collège Boréal Vipères: Varsity soccer.
- Olympic athlete Cloé Lacasse, a member of Canada’s women’s national soccer team, is an alumna of École secondaire Macdonald-Cartier. Originally from Sudbury, her journey shows that Northern Ontario can be a springboard to the highest levels of sport.
About Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord
Recognized for its keen sense of innovation and openness to the world, Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord offers a French-language public education of the highest quality in fifteen elementary schools and eight secondary schools in the communities of Markstay, Noëlville, Greater Sudbury, Blind River, Elliot Lake, Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa, Dubreuilville, Marathon, Manitouwadge, Longlac and Thunder Bay.
About Collège Boréal
Created in Sudbury in 1995, Collège Boréal is a French-language post-secondary education and training institution committed to the development and growth of the various Ontario communities it serves. Through its 31 campuses across 27 communities, Collège Boréal offers a high level of expertise in post-secondary education, basic training, apprenticeship, immigrant services, employment services, customized training and applied research.
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For more information:
Communications Office
Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord
705-919-0929
Benoît Clément
Manager, Communications and Media Relations
Collège Boréal
705-560-6673, ext. 2722
benoit.clement@collegeboreal.ca