REGINA - The location has been announced for a new joint-use elementary school in north Regina.
The school building, which will include both a school from Regina Public Schools and one for Regina Catholic School Division, will go on the site of the existing Imperial Community School at Broad and Hamilton Streets in Regina. The new school will replace the existing St. Peter, St. Michael, Imperial and McDermid elementary schools.
The indication is the location was chosen because that site could accommodate the size of the new school. The size is around 11,186 square metres, and the school will handle upwards of 800 prekindergarten to Grade 8 students between both school divisions. There is capacity to expand the school, using portables, to handle up to 1,000 students.
According to a news release, the structure will also feature a community space equipped with a kitchen area, as well as a 51-space child care centre. The City of Regina is partnering with the province and school divisions in providing $3.5 million towards the community space.
Design is being finalized, and it is expected tendering will happen in the next couple of weeks with construction to start this fall. The school is expected to be open in 2025.
The announcement took place Tuesday morning with dignitaries in attendance including Education Minister Dustin Duncan, Mayor Sandra Masters and representatives from the Public and Catholic school boards, along with plenty of school kids looking forward to the end of the school year this week.
The joint use school project for north Regina had been in the works for about a decade, with the province committing funding in the 2020 budget.
“There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes in terms of the design work, in terms of identifying location," Education Minister Dustin Duncan said to reporters.
"Obviously, the school division would’ve looked at all the existing schools this is replacing. This has a big enough footprint, more than the other three, that it can accommodate (the) construction of the new school while school continues here until it opens in 2025. These projects do take some time, but we wanted to make sure, especially as the school year ends that parents in the areas that will affected by the building of a new school, that we haven’t forgotten about this project. Everybody’s been working hard, the city has been involved and we wanted people to know that the project is moving ahead and they should start to see construction in the fall."
STATEMENTS FROM OFFICIALS:
"This is an exciting time for these four school communities," Regina Catholic Schools Board Chair Shauna Weninger said in a statement.
"We've celebrated the success of other joint-use projects, and this time we're combining double the schools, providing brand new and current learning environments to enhance education for students living in this area. It's a blessing to have this new facility underway."
"This formal announcement of the location of the joint-use northeast Regina school helps our school divisions further focus our attention on creating successful learning environments for all students," Regina Public School Division Board Chair Tara Molson said in a statement.
"We look forward to working with families, students and employees in the northeast Regina communities to develop a school that will serve them for many decades to come."
“The City of Regina is proud to play a role in this new joint-use school alongside our provincial government and school division partners in developing a new community centre in Regina’s northeast neighbourhood,” Regina Mayor Sandra Masters said in a statement.
“Community centres play a vital role in promoting active lifestyles, fostering connections and offering opportunities for residents to participate. Through input gathered from community and key stakeholders, we are committed to creating a space that not only serves as a hub for programs and recreation but also enhances our residents’ well-being and quality of life.”
