Opposition urges Yukon gov't to consider other sites for new Whitehorse Elementary School

Yukon's opposition parties want to put the brakes on the government's plans to build a new school in Whitehorse's Takhini neighbourhood, saying there wasn't enough consultation.

MLAs from the Yukon Party and the NDP — who together make up a majority in the Legislative Assembly — passed a motion on Wednesday to urge the government to "launch a formal process to consider alternative locations for the replacement of École Whitehorse Elementary School."

Last month, the territorial government announced its chosen location for the new Whitehorse Elementary School, which will replace the school's aging facility downtown. The new facility will go on the northwest corner of the Takhini Educational Land Reserve, near Range Road and University Drive. There are softball fields on that site now. 

Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon agrees that replacing the older school is a "good idea," but he questions the process used to choose the new site.

"This decision has obviously prompted a significant level of concern from a number of different groups, and those groups have been consistently asking why this location was chosen," Dixon said.

He cited concerns about increased traffic in the area, the clearing of forested areas, and the loss of softball fields. He says those concerns "deserve to be addressed through a formal process that allows stakeholders to have a say."

"They [the government] did no such process to determine this location," Dixon said.

Decision 'came out of nowhere'

NDP Leader Kate White, who represents the Takhini neighbourhood as MLA, agreed that there needs to be a "broad public consultation" about the decision.

She referred to the government's initial announcement two years ago that the new school would be built on the Takhini Educational Land Reserve. Last month's announcement was about the specific site chosen within that 16-acre reserve.

"There was a press conference held with the grand statement that École Whitehorse Elementary was moving to Takhini. And it came out of nowhere," White said.

"There's never been a time where my community has been fully engaged in the conversation of whether or not an elementary school of this size makes sense for the neighbourhood. There's never been that conversation. Never once."

Education Minister Jeanie McLean responded to the opposition motion, saying her government considered several other sites around the city, but concluded that the Takhini spot made the most sense, in part because of its central location. Whitehorse Elementary is a French immersion school that draws students from all parts of the city.

"The Takhini Education Land Reserve offers a more viable and cost-effective solution for building a modern, accessible facility, without the disruptions associated with renovating the current downtown location," McLean said.

"Placing the new school in a central location is key to creating an accessible, dynamic hub that will bring renewed vibrancy to the neighborhood."

McLean also said that she met with the local neighbourhood association last month to talk about the new school project.

"I listened to their perspectives and concerns, and I'm committed to working closely with them to address any questions and ensure the project aligns with the community's needs," she said. 

There is no timeline yet for when construction might begin on the new Whitehorse Elementary, or when it might open. Public Works Minister Nils Clarke said in 2022 that work would begin after construction was complete on the new Whistle Bend Elementary School, which happened earlier this year.