Construction gets started on new St. Frances Cree Bilingual School

Construction is underway on a new space for Saskatoon's Cree immersion school.

St. Frances Cree Bilingual School was established in 2007 thanks to a partnership between the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools and Saskatoon Tribal Council.

The school gives students the opportunity to learn both the Cree and English languages.

It has been operating in a temporary space, but now a new dedicated school is being built on Seventh Street East in Saskatoon.

The new three-storey building will have capacity for around 600 students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 9. There will also be 70 childcare spaces available.

The school will give Indigenous students the chance to learn about their culture, identity and language.

Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand was at the site Monday to help celebrate the start of construction. He said he didn't have opportunities like this as a kid.

"This is going to be a game-changer for the province, for the city, for the country. This will have around 700-plus students learning their culture, their language, their identity. We've always got to talk about putting that in the forefront, but also recognizing the past," Arcand said. "I congratulate everybody. Today is a special day."

The school will feature a research room, a learning greenhouse, an elder's teaching room and a medicine lab.

A nutrition kitchen is expected to serve 30,000 breakfasts, 44,000 snacks and 33,000 lunches to students annually.

Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood MLA Lisa Lambert spoke at Monday's event on behalf of Education Minister Dustin Duncan. She said the new school will be an inclusive, safe environment. 

"The Government of Saskatchewan is dedicated to ensuring First Nation perspectives, languages and traditions are a part of the learning experience of Saskatchewan students," Lambert said.

Lambert said many elements of the school were designed with Indigenous partners so that Indigenous knowledge systems, culture and language can be woven into the building itself.

The province is spending $45.9 million on the project. The new school is set to be completed by fall 2025.