English Montreal School Board

What English Montreal School Board does

The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is Quebec's largest English-language public school board, established on July 1, 1998 when the province reorganized school boards along linguistic lines, succeeding the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal. Headquartered at 6000 Fielding Avenue in Montreal, EMSB operates 73 schools and centres serving 33,000+ students across the youth and adult sectors, with a workforce of 2,135 employees. Its educational portfolio spans elementary (Kindergarten through Grade 6), secondary (Grades 7 through Secondary V), adult academic education (including distance learning via DEAL), vocational training with Recognition of Acquired Competencies, and specialized services for students with special needs including Social Participation and Sociovocational Integration Services. The board also runs BASE daycare, the EMSB Quebec Virtual Academy (QVA) for online learning, a gifted and exceptional learners program, and AEVS Testing Services for General Development and Secondary School Equivalency exams.

EMSB's underlying technology stack is conventional educational infrastructure rather than proprietary AI. Core digital products include a SharePoint-based ePortal for staff and student services, a Mozaïk Parent Portal for parent communication and student records, the EMSB Virtual Library offering e-books, audiobooks, encyclopedias, and video streaming, a School Finder mobile application, and an Online Summer School Registration system. Specialized offerings include the Mental Health Resource Centre and the Centre of Excellence for Speech & Language. The board also operates the Service to Business Group (SBG), a wholly-owned subsidiary delivering customized corporate training packages to external businesses across culinary, health care, industrial drafting, computer graphics, business language, and software categories.

As a public school board, EMSB does not operate on commercial revenue. Its funding is allocated by the Quebec Ministry of Education based on student enrolment and attendance, supplemented by property tax-based school tax revenue collected within its territory, international student tuition, cafeteria proceeds (including a $1.00 subsidized breakfast program and ~$4.25 main dishes via Le Mini Bistro across 18 cafeterias), and facility rentals. Distribution is entirely direct through its 73 owned-and-operated schools and centres plus community learning centres, with a dedicated international student recruitment program extending reach globally. Governance is exercised through a Council of Commissioners chaired by Joe Ortona, with Nick Katalifos serving as Director General.

Name

English Montreal School Board

Legal name

English Montreal School Board

Website

https://emsb.qc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The English Montreal School Board is Quebec's largest English-language public school board, operating 73 schools and centres serving 33,000+ youth and adult students across Montreal with funding from the Quebec Ministry of Education, school tax revenue, and ancillary streams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public K-12 Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Staffing & Contracted Providers (Paras, Therapists, Specialists) (EDAJAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Learning Support (Dyslexia/LD Coaching, Assistive Strategies) (EDAJALAJ), Library & Learning Space Managed Operations (Circulation, Scheduling, Staffing) (EDAEALAL)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Adult vocational training
• English school board
• Special education services
• Bilingual education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Public school board funded primarily by Quebec Ministry of Education funding based on student enrolment and attendance, with additional government allocations for special programs, services, and capital projects
2. School Tax Revenue: Property tax-based school tax revenue collected from property owners within the EMSB territory for educational purposes
3. Cafeteria and Food Services: Revenue from school cafeteria meal programs, with subsidized breakfast program at $1.00 and main dishes at approximately $4.25
4. Facility Rentals: Rental revenue from school facilities including gymnasiums and event spaces when not in use by students
5. International Student Tuition: Tuition fees charged to international students attending EMSB schools

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

EMSB is the largest English-language public school board in Quebec, operating 73 schools and centres that deliver elementary, secondary, adult education, vocational training, and specialized programs (including gifted education, special needs services, and alternative schooling) to more than 33,000 students. It also offers corporate training through its Service to Business Group (SBG) subsidiary and serves international students on a tuition basis. The board distributes digital learning resources through the ePortal, Mozaïk Parent Portal, EMSB Virtual Library, and the EMSB Quebec Virtual Academy (QVA).

Product overview

The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) operates as a network of 73 schools and centres serving over 33,000 youth and adult students across Montreal. Its product portfolio centers on educational services rather than software products, including the EMSB Quebec Virtual Academy (QVA) for online learning, the Service to Business Group (SBG) for corporate training, Summer School programs, and adult/vocational education. Digital offerings include the ePortal (SharePoint-based staff/student portal), Mozaïk Parent Portal, EMSB Virtual Library with e-books and audiobooks, School Finder App, and Online Summer School Registration system. The board also provides specialized services for gifted learners, special needs (including Social Participation and Sociovocational Integration Services), AEVS Testing Services, BASE Daycare, and cafeteria services through Le Mini Bistro. The organization functions primarily as a public educational institution rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EMSB Quebec Virtual Academy (QVA) Online virtual learning platform offering educational programs for students, providing remote instruction and digital learning resources for EMSB students.
• Service to Business Group (SBG) Corporate training division providing customized training packages for businesses, including culinary, beauty care, health care, industrial drafting, computer graphics, business language, and software training.
• Summer School Remedial and preparatory courses for students in Secondary I through V, offered during summer months with both virtual and in-person options at Laurier Macdonald High School.
• ePortal SharePoint-based staff and student portal providing access to employee services, student resources, and administrative tools.
• Mozaïk Parent Portal Parent-facing digital portal for viewing student information, grades, attendance, and communication with schools.
• EMSB Virtual Library Digital library resource offering e-books, audiobooks, encyclopedias, and video streaming available 24/7 to students, parents, and staff.
• BASE Daycare Before and after school daycare services for elementary school children at EMSB schools.
• Distance Education (DEAL) Distance learning programs for adult education students requiring flexible scheduling.
• Special Needs Network Comprehensive support services including specialized schools, self-contained classes, Social Participation (SP), and Sociovocational Integration Services (SVIS) for students with special needs.
• Gifted and Exceptional Learners Program Enrichment learning program providing advanced learners with opportunities for advanced learning at school and classroom levels based on personal strengths and readiness levels.
• AEVS Testing Services Adult Education evaluation services offering General Development Test (GDT) and Secondary School Equivalency Test (TENS).
• SARCA (Adult Academic Services Center) Adult academic services center providing educational programs and support for adult learners.
• Le Mini Bistro - School Lunch Catering Cafeteria catering service providing nutritious meals to students across 18 school cafeterias, with subsidized breakfast at $1.00 and main dishes at approximately $4.25.
• Mental Health Resource Centre Mental health support resources and services for students and families within the EMSB community.
• Centre of Excellence for Speech & Language Specialized services for speech and language development and support for EMSB students.
• Facility Rentals Rental of school facilities including gymnasiums and event spaces when not in use by students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33,000+ students served across youth and adult sectors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dr. Nikos Xanthoulis (Academy of Athens)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Greek composer-lyrist-researcher who conceived The Lyre's Dream project with EMSB, combining scholarly research with educational and artistic programming
• Sofia Session OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Bulgarian orchestra collaborating on The Lyre's Dream transatlantic project, providing symphonic sound world for EMSB choral performances
• Chroma Musika (Maria Diamantis and Dimitris Ilias)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Artistic direction provided by Chroma Musika for The Lyre's Dream educational and artistic initiative linking Montreal, Athens, and Sofia
• Senator Leo HousakosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Arranged special presentation of The Lyre's Dream in the Red Chamber of the Canadian Senate in Ottawa
• PSBGM Cultural Heritage FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Foundation supporting student bursaries through artwork sales proceeds at EMSB schools
• Centre of Excellence for Speech & LanguageminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Specialized service centre providing speech and language support to EMSB students

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Toronto District School Board: Canada's largest public school board by enrolment, serving Toronto's K-12 population. Operates a comparable K-12 + adult education + special needs model under Ontario's regulatory framework, offering broader-incumbent benchmarking for scale, governance, and program mix.
• Peel District School Board: One of Canada's largest public school boards, serving the Peel region in Ontario's Greater Toronto Area. Comparable as a large-scale K-12 operator with extensive special education, adult, and international student programs - though operating under Ontario rather than Quebec regulatory framework.
• Vancouver School Board: Public school board serving Vancouver, BC. Comparable as a large urban K-12 operator with international student programs, adult education, and special needs services - useful broad-incumbent peer for operational and governance benchmarking outside Quebec.
• Calgary Board of Education: Public school board serving Calgary, Alberta, with comparable K-12, special needs, and adult learning programming. Provides a useful comparator for how Canadian public school boards operate outside Quebec's unique language-law environment.
• Edmonton Public Schools: Public school board serving Edmonton, Alberta, with similar K-12 + adult education + special needs programming as EMSB. Serves as a broad-incumbent peer for Canadian public school board operating models.

Direct peers

• Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board: English-language public school board serving the Laval/Lanaudière/Laurentides regions of Quebec. Operates under identical Quebec Ministry of Education regulatory framework and serves the same English-eligible population, though with a smaller geographic footprint than EMSB.
• Lester B. Pearson School Board: Another English-language public school board in the greater Montreal area serving English-eligible students under Quebec's Charter of the French Language. Directly comparable in regulatory framework, funding model, and demographic profile, making it the closest analog to EMSB.
• Commission scolaire de Montréal / Centre de services scolaire de Montréal: French-language public school board serving the island of Montreal. Operates in the same geography under the same Quebec regulatory framework as EMSB, but serves the French-speaking majority population - useful as a comparable for funding mechanics and operational scale, though linguistically distinct.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EnglishMTL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EMSBTV/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/EnglishMTL
• Instagraminstagram.com/englishmtl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/english-montreal-school-board

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about English Montreal School Board