Whitehorse mayoral and council candidates have been batting against, struck away by and pitching alternatives for the future of an elementary school currently located downtown, but no one that the News canvassed explicitly fully supported the Yukon government’s plan.
The territorial government is planning to relocate the aging, irreparable École Whitehorse Elementary School (EWES) from downtown to a school lot in Takhini that already houses Takhini Elementary School. The replacement school is set to displace two softball fields in the northwest corner of the lot.
The News asked each Whitehorse candidate if they are in favour of the Yukon government’s current plan to relocate EWES to the Takhini school lot, and why or why not.
Several candidates cited concerns around losing ball diamonds, traffic congestion and a lack of public engagement on the issue.
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For those candidates that responded, their responses have been edited for clarity and length, and are presented in the order that their names appear on the City of Whitehorse’s elections web page.
Mayoral candidates respond
Kirk Cameron: Kirk Cameron, who lives downtown, isn’t in favour of relocating EWES.
Cameron sees value in having a downtown elementary school.
“I’ve heard this view expressed by many parents downtown,” he wrote by email to the News.
“I do not understand why the existing site cannot be used for a new school. There would be some logistics to work out while building the new school, but this can be done.”
Dino Rudniski: Dino Rudniski remains undecided.
“I believe there hasn’t been adequate consultation with the community. Most of the debate has occurred among territorial party members, with insufficient engagement from residents,” Rudniski said by email to the News.
“For major decisions like this, it’s essential to hold town hall meetings, followed by surveys based on those discussions. Both locations have their own advantages and drawbacks, though any decision should be grounded in community consultation.”
Dan Bushnell: Dan Bushnell responded in a one-liner by email to the News: “I support keeping a school in the downtown core.”
Stephen Kwok: In a brief email response to the News, Stephen Kwok said it’s a good idea to have a school in the downtown area.
Jack Bogaard: Jack Bogaard goes against the Yukon government’s plan but said by phone that he needs to know more about the issue.
Bogaard has plenty of questions: Is there enough room there? What are they going to do with the land downtown? He wonders if the downtown land will be flipped into actually affordable apartments. He fears what will happen to the ball diamonds — and how they will be replaced — given all the “great stuff” going on.
Bogaard indicated the project is moving too fast without public consultation.
Council candidates weigh in
Ken Schick: Ken Schick doesn't support the current relocation project.
"My reasoning is that I believe more investigation is required to fully determine if this is in fact the best location," Schick wrote by email to the News.
Schick prefers a downtown location.
Tony Lundgaard: Tony Lundgaard is in favour of moving EWES but proposes a different location altogether.
“I think there’s a better location,” Lundgaard wrote to the News by Facebook Messenger.
Lundgaard pitched putting EWES next to Christ the King Elementary School, on an abandoned, overgrown ball diamond in Riverdale.
“I don’t think anyone would complain in the same way,” Lundgaard said. “I never liked the idea of having schools next to the jail in town.”
Daniel Schneider: At this time, Daniel Schneider doesn’t support the Yukon government’s current plan.
“I believe we are better off to look at locating the school in the downtown area as we need to ensure we have a school downtown,” Schneider wrote by email to the News.
“Another reason is the traffic in that area is already bad enough so we would need to look at upgrading infrastructure in the area long before we should even consider this location as an option.”
Andrew Robulack: Andrew Robulack isn’t in favour of the Yukon government’s plan. It's the main reason Robulack chose to run in the municipal elections.
“The Government of Yukon hasn’t demonstrated in any meaningful way that the general location of Takhini is the best one for the school. It certainly hasn’t indicated that any other locations were ever considered or that any rigorous analysis or empirical evaluation was applied during the decision-making process,” Robulack said by email to the News.
Robulack said the territorial government turned down locals from being involved in the planning process. In turn, some residents formed the Takhini Neighbourhood Association. Education Minister Jeanie McLean allowed the new association to participate after Takhini’s MLA, Kate White of the Yukon NDP, made it an issue.
Robulack called the project committee that the association sits on a “disappointment." Robulack said the planning process happened behind closed doors.
“If elected I will seek to work with the government on re-evaluating its decision in pursuit of the most appropriate location for the school.”
Sarah Newton: In an email to the News, Sarah Newton noted the issue is complicated.
Newton supports the call from downtown residents for a school downtown.
“Each neighbourhood should have access to a school, a grocery store and basic amenities and downtown kids should be able to walk to school,” Newton said.
In the short term, EWES needs a home, and there are reasons why using an existing educational lot is beneficial.
Newton indicated it's important to take more time and work towards consensus.
"I wonder what other options have been considered,” Newton said.
Anne Middler: Anne Middler said the current proposal needs revisiting.
Middler noted the current controversy highlights the importance of community engagement for sharing information and understanding local perspectives in decision making.
Middler said schools need to be spread across the city so kids can get to school in active ways and for neighbourhoods to benefit from those spaces.
Middler noted the proposal requires "excessive disruption."
Middler looks forward to participating in "inclusive engagement" around the proposed new school location in Takhini and the existing downtown Whitehorse Elementary location.
Norma Felker: Norma Felker isn’t in favour of the proposed move.
“I believe that the softball fields are a valuable recreational resource that we will continue to need, and also think that the school is a good fit for the downtown area,” Felker told the News by email.
Michelle Stimson: Michelle Stimson commented by email to the News on the "heavy discussion" around the school relocation.
“The movement of the school to the Tahkini field is a no for me until a community open house forum is held. I believe this process will ensure the placement/relocation of this building to truly be a community choice,” Stimson said.
Stimson’s eyes are “wide open to the time frame.”
Stimson believes that “communication and inclusion will be powerful tools to achieve our success moving forward.”
Paolo Gallina: Paolo Gallina didn’t directly answer the question “yes or no” by email but is in favour of “supporting investments in education and ensuring our children have modern, safe learning environments.”
Gallina recognizes concerns raised by residents about the importance of maintaining schools downtown as they contribute to the vitality of the neighbourhood.
Gallina sees the importance in carefully evaluating the Yukon government’s proposal when it comes to mayor and council.
Eileen Melnychuk: Eileen Melnychuk isn’t in favour of the plans as proposed.
Melnychuk issued a press release on the matter ahead of the News’ inquiry.
If the school goes ahead, Melnychuk said residents could lose the greenbelt that’s between the back of the proposed school and the houses.
Melnychuk expressed concerns around a lack of “thorough community consultation.”
Jean-Sébastien Blais: By email to the News, Jean-Sébastien Blais said investing in education is essential.
“As for the announcement itself, I have heard a lot of concerns amongst the people of Takhini,” said Blais. Residents are questioning having two schools next to each other and the plans for adapting Range Road and University Drive to deal with more traffic.
Blais said the well-being of students at Takhini Elementary School and their school’s culture is important to consider, particularly considering the value of the forest there. Blais wants to hear more from those attending and working at the existing Takhini school.
Dan Boyd: Dan Boyd couldn’t give a “yes or no” answer in response to the question.
Boyd understands that changes to the Official Community Plan and zoning are required.
“The next council will need to consider it and go through the bylaw process,” Boyd wrote by email to the News. “The process will include a thorough administrative analysis, a public hearing and likely a transportation analysis.”
Boyd looks forward to “further public engagement on this issue.”
However, Boyd fully supports having an elementary school downtown.
Lenore Morris: In an email to the News, Lenore Morris isn’t in favour of the proposed move given the “very limited rationale” provided by the Yukon Education department.
Furthermore, Morris, who is a downtown resident, believes the area should have an elementary school. Morris helped gather signatures for a petition later introduced by Whitehorse Centre MLA Lane Tredger of the Yukon NDP in the Yukon legislature on the matter two years ago, when the move was first announced.
“EWES could be replaced on its existing site by constructing the new building immediately adjacent to the current building,” Morris said, like what happened when F.H. Collins Secondary School was built.
"Spacing schools around our city would give neighbourhoods community hubs — with sporting facilities, meeting rooms and auditoriums for gathering — and enabling more students to walk or bike to school."
— With files from Talar Stockton
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
