Provincial funding announced for Nass Valley school improvement

Gitwinksihlkw Elementary school will have a gym in place
by the start of the 2023 school year

The Ministry of Education has outlined some plans for a significant improvement for the Gitwinksihlkw Elementary school, a small kindergarten-to-Grade 7 school which serves the Nass Valley community.  

This morning, the Ministry outlined the details of the 6.3 million dollar investment in a new gymnasium for the school, a facility that will offer opportunity for much more than Gym classes.

“This is an important opportunity to encourage the many benefits of structured play and team sports. We know that play and sport are critical to improved learning, co-operation, leadership and physical development. It also furthers our efforts to build truth, equity and reconciliation into education across the province, while meeting our climate-action goals. This space, run by and for Nisga’a people, will be built to LEED Gold standards and demonstrates our commitment to Indigenous students and Indigenous communities.” --  Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education. 

The school which was built in 1995 was completed without a gymnasium, with students using the nearby Ts’oohl Ts’ap Memorial Centre which has created some scheduling conflicts over the years. 

Construction will begin in the summer of 2022, with occupancy to take place in September of 2023.

In addition to the athletic opportunities for students, the faculty will be available for cultural and community use as well, like sports teams, dance groups, educational conferences, the YMCA, the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority and other local groups. 

Other community celebrations, such as the Nisga’a new year, Hoobiyee, will be held in the gym and the space will be used for post-secondary training by the Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute. 

More on today's funding announcement can be reviewed here.

A wider overview of Nisga'a themes is available from our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.