Horizon School Division's central office building in Humboldt opened earlier this year (Facebook/Horizon School Division)

By Cam Lee

Grand opening celebration

Horizon School Division hosting building grand opening

Nov 9, 2019 | 12:00 PM

The Horizon School Division is hosting the grand opening of their central office building Friday, Nov. 15.

Construction of the new facility was approved by the board in 2015, and the building on Eight Ave. has been in use since January.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Education Gord Wyant will be on hand for the grand opening, as will Humboldt-Watrous MLA and Finance Minister Donna Harpauer and other dignitaries.

Director of Education Kevin Garinger told northeastNOW the division has looked forward to this day since the inception of amalgamation in 2006.

“[It’s] a tremendous opportunity to celebrate what is a very functional and efficient building that we’re able to operate in, and we’re very proud of it,” said Garinger.

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Previously, half of the staff were in rented space in the Olymel building, and the other half were located in the office quonset across town.

Garinger said the division operated that way for about five years, and the decision was made to build the new facility because their lease at the Olymel site ran out. They wanted all of the staff under one roof.

“The fact that we were renting space and that sort of thing, in actuality in so many ways we’re saving money because of this [build],” said Garinger.

He cited the board room as one of the features of the new building they’re most proud of, as the removable wall can open up the space for 150 people allowing them to host larger training sessions and other meetings.

The technology in the facility is also important, according to Garinger, because it allows for more frequent meetings with principals via videoconference or teleconference rather than driving to a central location, again saving money.

Garinger said the large facility also allows students to observe local government in action.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin Friday at 10 a.m., with the open house running from noon to 6 p.m.

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cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974