We are so grateful that the construction of our largest SchoolBOX North project to date – “Gikendaaso Anwebi Waakaa’igan – Place of Learning & Rest” is now complete!
This project was a partnership between SchooLBOX and the Bimose High School & Gaagagekiizhik elementary school to better serve First Nations students from the 7 reserve communities surrounding Kenora. The kids had no access to books at the school and had to travel across the city to the Public Library for resources. An internal study during the pandemic found that over 90% of the kids had no access to reading materials at home, so this was a priority project for Principal, Wendy McPherson and the youth at the school.
We partnered with a construction company from Timmins, ON called First Nations Industrial Systems to construct a 40′ x 60′ learning center complete with 3 offices, washroom and large open library and study area. This space not only provides access to key resources for the students at the school, but frees up space so the school can finally add a grade 8 class! We are so grateful to have worked together with the staff and students to help “make education possible” for these amazing First Nations students this year.
Our team in Treaty #3 (Ramona & Terri Meekis pictured above) are now eagerly working to install all of the new library furniture, new Indigenous books, art and technology to make the space a vibrate center for learning and rest. We are so excited to open the new library in September! We cannot thank you all enough for generously supporting this endeavour to build a new learning center during the pandemic — thanks & Miigwetch to each of you!
