More than 200 people have signed a petition urging the Yukon government to maintain a school in downtown Whitehorse.

The document was tabled in the legislature on Tuesday by Emily Tredger, the NDP MLA for Whitehorse Centre.

“Last spring, residents of downtown Whitehorse were shocked by the announcement that École Whitehorse Elementary was being relocated up the hill to Takhini,” she told the House.

“Since then, I have held town halls, knocked on doors, met with constituents, and received many, many e-mails and phone calls about the fate of our downtown school.

“I know (Education Minister Jeanie McLean) has heard from people too, and the message is loud and clear: we need an elementary school downtown,” Tredger said.

“Everyone understands that the current building needs replacement, and everyone appreciates the challenges of shuffling schools and students.”

Parents are not asking McLean to change plans or promise that the French immersion program will stay where it is, Tredger said.

“What we are asking for is assurance that a new elementary school will be built downtown. Will the minister commit to downtown residents that there will be a new elementary school built downtown?”

McLean said the plans are “really about good government investing in school infrastructure.

“École Whitehorse Elementary school has been identified for replacement with a new modern facility that will meet the needs of the community for years to come.

“As Whitehorse continues to grow, we must ensure that our schools are able to serve the needs of our students, families, and educators.”

The school was built in 1950. It’s the oldest school building in Whitehorse.

“In terms of the direct question, the engagement with the broader Whitehorse community and partners is planned for the fall to determine a long-term plan for replacing and renovating other aging schools,” McLean added.

“I met with the downtown residents who are concerned about having an elementary school in the downtown core.”

Their opinions will be fed into the fall engagement process and will be considered in the long-term plan, as it’s developed, the minister said.

“That is a direct commitment that I made to the downtown residents.

“We had a very good meeting, and I definitely spent the time listening, hearing, and understanding their concerns,” McLean added.

Tredger said there are many reasons to have an elementary school downtown.

“In the time of climate crisis, families are choosing to live where their children can walk to school,” she said.

“People want to build community where they live in their own neighbourhood. A school is so much more than a place for education: it is a community hub.

“Without an elementary school, downtown will become a less desirable place for people to live, and risks turning into a commercial core that is a ghost town after 5:00,” Tredger said.

“As one parent said to me, ‘a community without a school is a dying community.’

“Is that the future this government envisions for downtown? I certainly hope not.”

She urged McLean to recognize and commit to the importance of an elementary school in the downtown core.

The minister said she has read “all of the letters and concerns that have been raised with me.

“...In terms of the replacement of École Whitehorse Elementary school, again, this is long overdue. The current facility is just not keeping pace with the current and future programming needs.”

A project advisory committee “is established to facilitate the collaboration and exchange of ideas between key partners, stakeholders, and Government of Yukon,” McLean added.

Tredger still had concerns.

“The minister is talking about an engagement to decide what happens next, but that is a bit of a slap in the face, because no engagement was needed to get rid of downtown’s only elementary school,” she said.

“No engagement was needed with Takhini before dropping a second school into their neighbourhood.

“So, why does this government suddenly need a formal engagement before they can listen to downtown residents?” Tredger asked.

“People have been very clear in their desire to have a downtown elementary school.

“The minister has to commit to having an elementary school downtown, and then go ahead with the engagement to find out what the school should look like.

“Ask people who should be eligible to attend, how it should be built, what facilities it needs — but, first, reassure them that they are listening.

“Reassure them that their community will not be left without an elementary school,” Tredger urged.

“So, will the minister commit to an elementary school downtown?”

McLean noted the government is also constructing a school in Whistle Bend and has committed to building one in Burwash Landing school.

“I’ve assured the downtown residents that the information they’re providing and the concerns will be considered as we do the consultation on future renovations, replacements, and other infrastructure needs for our school community in Whitehorse, and that their information will be brought forward, and they will be part of the consultation, along with so many other partners who we’re working with.”

On Wednesday, Yukon Party MLA Scott Kent asked McLean when the fall engagement exercise will occur.

She again listed the various school projects the government is pursuing, but did not answer Kent’s question.

The new school will be built on the Takhini Educational Land Reserve, which the government has said has room for two schools.

There have been concerns expressed about the new school’s negative impact on the nearby softball diamonds across Range Road from the softball complex.

The exact footprint of the new building and its parking lot has not been publicly revealed, nor the completion date.

Concerns have also been voiced about the added traffic the new school will bring to that portion of Range Road.

New major residences have been built off the road, which already accommodates traffic destined for Takhini Elementary School (adjacent to the new planned school), the Whitehorse Correctional Centre, Yukon University, the Yukon Arts Centre and the Yukon Archives.

When it announced its plans last June 3, the government used an approximate price tag of $48 million for the new building.

It did not indicate what will happen to the current École Whitehorse Elementary building after the new school is completed.

Answering that question from Kent, McLean told the legislature Wednesday that issue is still being discussed with project planners.

“There have been no plans put in place as of yet for the existing building,” she said.

The petition Tredger tabled says:

“THAT neighbourhood schools are an essential element of neighbourhoods that reflect and implement good urban planning;

THAT neighbourhood schools are an important part of any plan or vision to sustain or promote diverse, healthy neighbourhoods that are reflective of a wide range of demographics;

THAT École Whitehorse Elem-entary School, also known as EWES, is the only elementary school in downtown Whitehorse;

THAT in June 2022, prior to and without conducting any public consultation, the Yukon government announced that it would be closing EWES and rebuilding the school in the Takhini Educational Land Reserve, also known as the Takhini ballpark area; and

THAT the Takhini ballpark area is an important area for physical recreation and in particular for the softball community in Whitehorse;

THEREFORE, the undersigned ask the Yukon Legislative Assembly to urge the Yukon government to ensure that there is an elementary school in downtown Whitehorse and to conduct public consultation on this matter.”