THUNDER BAY - Matawa First Nations has cleared its most pressing hurdle needed to open a proposed 100-student Aboriginal high school in Thunder Bay.
On Monday city council unanimously agreed to sign a letter of intent to turn over the former Grandview Lodge to the Indigenous organization, with a plan to open the Student Education and Care Centre for First Nations Youth as soon as September 2018.
Matawa chief executive officer David Paul Achneepineskum said community leaders are convinced the new facility will improve the health and safety of students attending school from remote communities within the Matawa territory.
“We want to try to make it the best space possible for them to live in, to educate themselves and to move on to what I believe a good future for them,” Achneepineskum said on Monday night, adding they will use the grant of the $900,000 former city owned seniors home to leverage funding from other levels of government to help pay for construction costs.
The ambitious project is expected to create 70 new jobs once the school and housing facility are completely operational, adding $4 million annually to the economy on top of $3 million in new facility and program spending.
During the construction phase, the project will create 150 person years of employment and provide $5 million worth of income to the local economy.
The school will take a holistic approach to education, offering flexible hours and one care worker for every nine students. There will be after-hours recreational and cultural programming and a neighbourhood outreach program.
“We want this facility to be a home-away-from home,” said Matawa’s education manager Sharon Nate.
“This school and care centre will create a sense of belonging for our students.”
Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds said the re-purposing of the former city owned senior home, inspired in part by the 2011 death of teenager Jordan Wabasse, is a project worth getting behind.
“I think this is a game-changer for the community,” said Foulds, a vice-principal at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute, during Monday’s committee of the whole meeting at city hall.
“I just want to say good work.”
At-large Coun. Iain Angus, a long-time supporter of the project, said it’s a win-win for everyone, from the students to the community.
“It’s like a brand new company that’s moving into town,” he said. “And this is not one of those companies we’d have to worry about moving to Mexico.”
The facility would be returned to the city for a nominal cost should the school close.
Realty services manager Joel DePeuter estimated holding onto Grandview Lodge costs taxpayers in the range of $200,000 per year, adding that the only offers received to buy the vacant building haven’t come close to the asking price.
While Northwood Coun. Shelby Ch’ng said she’s received some negative feedback from area residents, at large Coun. Aldo Ruberto wasn’t buying it.
“Actions speak louder than words,” he said. “This is a perfect example of together.”
Achneepineskum is expected to officially sign the letter of intent with the city at a ceremony on Tuesday morning.
