Construction of new schools officially underway
With the turn of a shovel—or rather several shovels—the start of construction of six new schools in the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) division was celebrated on September 11.
Starting in Rosewood, the site of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Catholic School, a sign unveiling and sod turning also represented the other three new schools in Saskatoon: St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School in Stonebridge, St. Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic School in Hampton Village and St. Nicholas Catholic School in Evergreen.
Premier Brad Wall and Education Minister Don Morgan joined GSCS Board Chair Diane Boyko and other trustees, Saskatoon Public Schools Board Chair Ray Morrison, Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison, Whitecap Dakota First Nation Chief Darcy Bear, staff and students from both divisions, representatives from the Joint-Use Mutual Partnership (JUMP) construction consortium, and representatives from several other community groups at the event.
"Schools are central to our communities and neighbourhoods," Boyko said. "They are not only centres of learning and development, they become hubs of activity for the entire community. Our Catholic schools also become focal points of spiritual development, encouraging our children to grow as faithful disciples, serving communities in which they live. We're excited to see construction begin in these growing and vibrant communities."
GSCS trustees, staff and students were joined by their counterparts from the Prairie Spirit School Division in the cities of Martensville and Warman to mark the start of those communities' first Catholic schools, Holy Mary Catholic School and Holy Trinity Catholic School respectively. Minister Morgan, JUMP representatives and community members—including Kent Muench, mayor of Martensville and GSCS consultant, and Gary Philipchuk, deputy mayor of Martensville—were also in attendance.
The six schools are part of a public-private partnership (P3) model that includes 18 schools being built on nine joint-use sites across the province. Schools are scheduled to be ready for students in September 2017.
