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By Curtis Galbraith

Ribbon cutting at new Grande Prairie school (VIDEO)

Dec 1, 2017 | 4:34 AM

A big crowd gathered in the gym of Grande Prairie’s new Roy Bickell Public School Thursday afternoon for an official opening ceremony and ribbon cutting. It is located on Royal Oaks Drive.

Alberta Education Minister David Eggen says the new school is more than a place to learn.

“It’s a source of pride for the whole community. We see tremendous growth here in north Grande Prairie and (this is) a school that’s been deserved and a long time coming. We opened 53 (new schools) across the province this fall alone. There was a huge backlog. They weren’t building schools for more than a decade and we’ve come in, our government, and made it a priority to make life better for Alberta families.”

He expects there to be more demand for new schools in a growing community like Grande Prairie.

“I take my direction from your school boards. I mean, they’re elected on the ground, they know what’s going on. We watch for population trends. When you have a big group of zero to four-year-olds coming through, you know you’ve got to build an elementary school and when you have a big crowd of seven, eight and nines, you have to get ready for the high schools.”

Eggen says low-interest rates make this a good time to build new schools.

“And having lots of tradespeople available. This school was built in a record time, 13 months, and it’s from experienced builders who have built many schools for us already. So, we have the expertise, we have the demand. I just have to try and find the money.”

Bickell’s daughter Judy Brewster says her parents would have been humbled to know a school was named after her dad.

“He really valued education. He loved this community. He was a life-long learner. He was taking courses when he was in his 70’s.”

She adds it was also humbling for her to be there to speak on behalf of the family and to help cut the ribbon.

“And to hear people talk about my Dad, who knew my Dad and really understood what his character was like and how important people were, and learning was and the community is.”

While he was in the Peace, Eggen also met with County of Grande Prairie Councillor Karen Rosvold about funding for small, rural schools. He says that funding is important because such schools can be the centre of, and a source of pride for, smaller communities.

 

 

by Curtis Galbraith