June 17, 2015 – Ottawa, ON – Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and Member of Parliament Tilly O'Neill Gordon today congratulated Eel Ground First Nation on the official opening of its new elementary school. Minister Valcourt and MP O'Neill Gordon toured the new school during a community visit last week.
The new $9 million school was built with an investment of just over $8.1 million from our Government. The First Nation contributed $900,000 toward the project.
The new school accommodates the more than 90 students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 enrolled in the present elementary school and will meet the community's student population growth expectations for the future. It was designed and built to be energy efficient resulting in significantly reduced operating costs.
Our Government is focused on what matters most to Canadians—growing the economy and helping create jobs. That is why the Government continues to invest in new schools, like Natoaganeg School, and support the construction of provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure, while maximizing local employment opportunities.
Minister Valcourt, the Member of Parliament for Miramichi, Tilly O'Neill Gordon (left), and the school's principal, Helen Bernard-Ward (right), browse through classroom materials at Eel Ground First Nation's new elementary school.
"The Chief, Council and Community of Eel Ground are very pleased to be officially celebrating the opening of the new K-8 Natoaganeg School on the 17th of June with leadership, educators, elders and youth with Federal, provincial and First Nations well represented. A new community school has been a goal, a dream for Eel Ground for over 10 years. Our old school was over crowded, and in very poor condition. The new school is bright, spacious, well laid out and will be surrounded by recreation and green spaces. We want to thank our partners in making this project a reality, especially AANDC, the Regional office played a key role in assisting Eel Ground and our Consultants from Hatch Mott and the builder, Bird Construction in delivering a facility that supports and promotes community education."
- Chief George Ginnish,
Chief of Eel Ground First Nation
Emily Hillstrom
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
819-997-0002
Media Relations
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
819-953-1160
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