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Yukon MLAs debate new location for École Whitehorse Elementary School

Friday, 11 October 2024 11:51

By Stuart Bonell X @BonellStuart

Education Minister Jeannie McLean speaking with media at the Jim Smith building. (Photo: S. Bonell)

60 per cent of Thursday's question period was dedicated to discussing the relocation of Whitehorse's only downtown elementary school

Members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly had a heated debate regarding the proposed location for École Whitehorse Elementary School, yesterday.

During question period, NDP Leader and MLA for Takhini-Kopper King Kate White raised her concerns about the Government of Yukon’s apparent lack of consultation regarding the decision on a location for the replacement for École Whitehorse Elementary School.

“Yesterday in the assembly, the Minister of Education said, and I quote: ‘We’re constantly inviting input and weaving what we hear from communities into our decisions,’” said White during question period. “So, if she’s so open to hearing from communities, when will a full, public consultation on the relocation of École Whitehorse Elementary School be held?”

One piece of input that has come from both White and Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon is the potential to repurpose F.H. Collins Secondary School as a replacement for École Whitehorse Elementary School, and build a new high school that can better accommodate the older students, instead. Speaking with media later, Education Minister Jeannie McLean said that wasn’t an option.

“I’m not sure how they would think that you could just simply move students from École Whitehorse Elementary into the high school,” said McLean to reporters on Thursday. “Where would the high school students go in the interim? There’s no place for them to go, and that is the case right now. The students in École Whitehorse Elementary need to remain in that school that they’re currently in until we build a new school.”

For clarity, students at École Whitehorse Elementary School will have to remain in that building until a new school is built regardless of whether it is a new elementary school, or a new high school.

Minister McLean said she is meeting with the Takhini Neighbourhood Association later this week to discuss its concerns about the proposed location.

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