The School and Parish Centre
The request to build a school by Archbishop Carney in 1983 was initially met
with some reluctance in the parish because of the costs involved. However, a
Steering Committee was first established in January 1984 and planning
proceeded throughout the year. On January 24, 1985, Father Paschal wrote to
the Archbishop requesting his formal approval in principle to proceed with the
project, and received the go-ahead in February 1985. Several Committees worked
on different aspects of the new School/Parish Centre project through 1985. One
of the difficulties was the method of funding of separate school operations by
the Provincial Government. They would only provide funding in the third year
of operation. St. Paul’s was approached to see if we could operate as annex
to their school for 2 years before moving into our own school, and they agreed
to this.
In November 1985, Fr. Paschal wrote to the Archbishop for his approval, which
was received the following month. This resulted in the purchase of the first
of the two portables which came into use as Grade 1 classroom in September
1986. At the same time the kindergarten began in St. Paul’s school. The
second portable was ordered to be in place by July 1987 for a Grade 2 class.
On October 5, 1986, the portable was blessed, the teachers commissioned and
the formal agreement with St. Paul’s signed.
Request for proposals were sent to architects in March , 1986 resulting in
Oberto Oberti Inc. being awarded the project in June 1986. In November 1986
the site plan was accepted and preliminary sketches of the new school were
progressing. At one point, a two storey structure was considered for the
school which would have allowed a larger school, but this was changed to a
single storey structure to satisfy the neighbours objections.
By mid-1987, the plans were starting to come together and the ground breaking
ceremony took place on Sunday May 24th. The site for the new school was
consecrated by Fr. Ken Cienik while the official sod turning was a joint
effort by Fr. Paschal and Fr. Damien, Vicar General at the time. The contract
to pre-load the site was signed in late May 1987.
The architectural plans were finally completed in July 1987 and tenders were
sent out resulting in Artuso Brothers being chosen for the construction
contract. Work commenced on the building on November 2, 1987 and the opening
of the new facility for the parish was on June 19, 1988. The school opened in
September 1988 with Kindergarten and Grades 1 – 3 and an additional grade
was added each year for the next four years.
The School/Parish Centre was blessed and dedicated by Archbishop Carney on
September 19, 1988.
The School/Parish Centre cost under $2M of which $750,000 was carried on a
demand loan. On November 15, 1992, the Friars announced at each mass that the
final payment on the School/Parish Centre was paid on November 2nd – the
news was received with enthusiastic applause!