The Northern Lights Public Schools Board of Trustees has been approved for pre-planning funds to build a new school on Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement.
“We are excited to work with Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement on moving forward with this project and taking the next steps toward providing students with the opportunity to pursue their education in their community,” said Board Chair Karen Packard.
Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement is the only Métis Settlement in Alberta without a school. Most Kindergarten to Grade 8 students are having to travel 23 kilometres to attend Caslan School. The provincial funding will support community consultation and project planning, helping determine the school’s scope. A site has already been chosen within the settlement to co-locate the school with other community services, encouraging local involvement, extracurricular activities, and expanded programming.
The board and Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement council have been advocating for a school for nearly a decade. “Buffalo Lake council has done an amazing job of advocating for this project and doing everything they possibly could to prepare for this project,” said Packard. “We are grateful for their leadership and partnership and look forward to celebrating with them as we move this project forward towards construction.”
This marks the third major school infrastructure priority NLPS has received funding in the past two years. In March 2023, the board secured design funding for a replacement school for Vera. M Welsh Elementary in Lac La Biche, which is now waiting for construction approval. Additionally, earlier this month NLPS received funding to address infrastructure needs at Art Smith Aviation Academy, North Star Elementary School, and Cold Lake Junior High.
“We are overjoyed to be making progress on three of the priorities identified in our capital plan at the same time,” said Packard. “These are all much-needed projects that will enhance learning for our students and meet the needs for families and our communities.”
