The Yukon government has decided to cancel the proposed construction of a new École Whitehorse Elementary School in the Takhini neighborhood and is now looking for an alternative site. Initially, the Liberal government had announced plans to build the new school on the northwest corner of the Takhini Educational Land Reserve near Range Road and University Drive, which is currently occupied by softball fields.
The new school building was intended to replace the existing 75-year-old Whitehorse Elementary School located in downtown Whitehorse, which is in urgent need of significant renovations. Education Minister Scott Kent, speaking in the legislative assembly, emphasized the government’s commitment to replacing the aging downtown school but criticized the selection of the Takhini location, stating that it lacked sufficient community consultation.
Following concerns raised by residents in the Takhini neighborhood regarding issues such as traffic, safety, and preserving green space, the government has decided to seek input from citizens on potential new locations for the school. Minister Kent announced that alternative location options will be presented early next year.
Addressing cost overruns related to the project during the previous government’s tenure, Kent mentioned ongoing efforts to determine these additional expenses without providing specifics. NDP MLA Lane Tredger, representing most of downtown Whitehorse, advocated for a new school building in the downtown area, emphasizing the importance of having a public elementary school in the neighborhood for the residents.
Tredger stressed the need for a downtown elementary school, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to commit to supporting such a project, rather than specifying immediate details on its construction timeline. The NDP has consistently pushed for the establishment of a downtown elementary school since the announcement of the demolition of the aging Whitehorse Elementary building, which would leave downtown without a public elementary school.