COLD LAKE – The Government of Alberta’s $8.6 billion investment to build and modernize over 100 schools across the province, will include planning funding for Art Smith Aviation Academy, North Star Elementary School and Cold Lake Junior High, which are all part of Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS).
On March 7, the provincial government announced the 2025 budget will fund several school projects in smaller urban and rural communities.
“We are taking action to address the challenges facing rural schools and communities outside metro Edmonton and Calgary,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education. “While some schools in rural Alberta are getting older and need to be modernized or replaced, other communities are experiencing growing enrolment. I’m proud to say our Budget 2025 commitment addresses both challenges – and this is just the beginning.”
A few days later, the NLPS board of trustees announced it would be moving forward with the Cold Lake South Solution, a project that aims to tackle infrastructure issues at the three Cold Lake-based schools.
The provincial funding will allow the board to define the project’s scope, explore potential sites, and prepare for the design phase, according to NLPS.
“We have been working closely with various levels of government to find a solution that meets the needs of students at all three schools,” said Karen Packard, board chair of NLPS. “We are grateful that the urgency of this project has been recognized, and we can now begin planning for facilities that will better serve our students and community.”
The Cold Lake South Solution was originally a request to replace North Star Elementary School but was expanded last spring to address broader challenges in the community.
“Moving this project forward has truly been a team effort,” said Packard. “We appreciate the advocacy and support of MP Laila Goodridge, MLA Scott Cyr, former Wing Commander Col. Dave Turenne, current Wing Commander Col. Mark Hickey, the Military Families Support Society, and Mayor Craig Copeland in emphasizing the need for these improvements and their impact on the community.”
The three schools included in the Cold Lake Solution project are:
-
Art Smith Aviation Academy, which operates in a federally owned building on 4 Wing Cold Lake that was deemed “end of life” in 2006, making relocation essential.
-
North Star Elementary, which has seen growth that exceeded projections, straining space, power, parking, play areas, and gymnasium use.
-
Cold Lake Junior High, which requires upgrades to address design flaws and mitigate liability risks, according to the school division.
“By combining these needs into a single initiative, we can explore more effective solutions that may not have been available if we addressed them separately,” Packard explained.
While the Cold Lake project is progressing, NLPS is also awaiting construction approval for its top capital priority - a replacement school for Vera M. Welsh Elementary School in Lac La Biche. The school received design funding in 2023, and with the design process now complete, the board is eager to see it move forward with the project, according to NLPS.
Martin Long, Minister of Infrastructure, spoke about the province’s commitment to ensuring the projects benefit students for years to come.
“Alberta Infrastructure is committed to getting students into desks as soon as possible, while ensuring their classrooms are well-built and well-maintained for generations of positive learning,” Long stated. “Our province is built on strong communities, and projects like these will have a generational impact on students as they learn and grow in these facilities.”
