Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk today about the state of the educational facilities in my riding. Mr. Speaker, as all people in Yellowknife will know, J.H. Sissons and Mildred Hall are two gems of our education system in the riding of Yellowknife Centre.
Mr. Speaker, in 1975, J.H. Sissons was constructed. That was really the last time a hammer ever found itself into that school. Mr. Speaker, it has not been renovated on the capital plan by this government since then. Yes, it has received a new boiler, which just allows more efficient heat to roll out those leaking windows, and occasionally it has had some fresh paint. Mr. Speaker, ultimately you can’t hide the fact that this place needs to be updated with a little bit of fresh paint.
Mr. Speaker, J.H. Sissons is the priority of the school’s board wanting it to be updated in the short term. Mr. Speaker, if it cannot get a full renovation like other projects can, why don’t we take the approach that they want some gymnasium upgrades and certainly carpet upgrades, because this school board understands that certain schools need priority listings and J.H. Sissons needs to be on that list. It wasn’t that long ago when it was on the list but it has been bumped off. Mr. Speaker, you have to keep in mind that school boards need to make sure that the schools are healthy, safe and modern. It is difficult to attract students to schools that look aged.
Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, Mildred Hall was fortunate enough to get some updates in 2005, but 2005 presented itself as a facelift, not a full renovation as the department will try to tell you. It did some paint, some great structural work up front of the building of Mildred Hall, but, Mr. Speaker, completely forgot about some of the important things such as some of the roofing structure, the windows and many of the walls have not been touched since the original construction back in 1965.
Mr. Speaker, the students there at Mildred Hall use their two little auditoriums to do all their gymnasium programs. They have been asking for some time to have a real gymnasium expanded, which is just not like what any other school really deserves. I think all schools in the Northwest Territories deserve a good quality gymnasium. You can only take your gym sports out so often. It is just completely unfair.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to stress that J.H. Sissons is certainly a gem because it draws out the French-speaking community and an education for them as well as Mildred Hall represents diversity of its finest. These two schools need the support from this government. I look forward to question period hearing the Minister support that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
