A city core that loses its school soon lapses into a dying neighbourhood, city council was told Monday evening.

Council had before it a motion from Coun. Ted Laking “ensuring that there continues to be an elementary school in downtown Whitehorse.”

The motion was passed. Earlier in the day, via a letter, a territorial cabinet minister had opened the door to a future downtown school after the pending relocation of École Whitehorse Elementary School (see story below).

Lane Tredger, the NDP MLA for Whitehorse Centre, was one of several people who addressed council on the issue.

During the summer of 2022, “with no consultation,” Tredger said, the Yukon government announced that École Whitehorse Elementary School will be relocated to an unspecified place on the Takhini education reserve off Range Road.

The decision upset a number of downtown residents, and Tredger later tabled a protest petition in the legislature.

Before council on Monday, Tredger quoted from some of the downtown residents who have spoken out about losing their school.

The remarks included, “A community without a school is a dying community” and “A school is the glue that holds a community together.”

A downtown school has the advantage of the recreational opportunities offered by Shipyards Park and the waterfront, Tredger added.

“Let’s make sure we have a community downtown,” the MLA said.

“I have heard from families who are leaving or who are considering leaving downtown” if the area ends up with no school, they told council.

One mother told Tredger the withdrawal of École Whitehorse Elementary sends the stark message that children aren’t welcome in the neighbourhood.

A school provides a sense of balance to a neighbourhood, they added.

“There is a concern downtown would be a ghost town without things like a school.”

Tredger offered another quote reported to them: “Take out the school now and in 20 years, you will need a revitalization project.”

Downtown resident Brook Land-Murphy, appearing with her young daughter, Meg, reminded council that downtown is the city’s third-largest neighbourhood.

As well, she noted, it’s planned to have 50 per cent of future population growth living downtown, such as in the major residential development set for Fifth Avenue at Rogers Street.

It was announced March 14 that a consortium has purchased that land parcel for $1 to eventually develop an estimated 300 housing units.

While the Yukon government will determine the location of the new École Whitehorse Elementary School, Land-Murphy said, “the city has a role in influencing those decisions.

“ ... Growth is taking many forms, presumably ... schools are important for the vitality of the neighbourhood. The population will and does include many people with children.”

And it’s beneficial for those children to attend a neighbourhood school, she added.

Her daughter wants council members to know she loves walking and biking to Whitehorse Elementary, Land-Murphy said, “and it is better for the planet,” as Meg described it.

A school helps ensure a neighbourhood’s diversity of younger and older people, she added.

Coun. Kirk Cameron asked Land-Murphy about the option of easing downtown residents’ access to the numerous Riverdale schools.

Land-Murphy pointed out that most downtown-based parents would drive their children to a Riverdale school – thus worsening the problems along traffic-choked Lewes Boulevard.

While she wouldn’t allow her daughter to bicycle to a school in Riverdale, she added, “I would expect my kid biking to F.H. Collins” at an older age.

“I don’t see that (improved access to Riverdale schools) as a solution,” she said in response to Cameron.

“ ... It would be helpful to make a target recommendation and ask or an elementary school,” Land-Murphy told council.