The joint-use school being built on South Hill will move forward. That was the message from Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence to the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division board on Monday. 

The project in the Westheath Subdivision has hit some roadblocks along the way with inflationary costs and land agreement delays with the city. It was originally scheduled to open this fall, but that has been pushed back to 2025. 

However, Lawrence said the province is still committed to making the new school happen. 

“We, as in me and Tim (McLeod, MLA for Moose Jaw North), are on the radar with both ministers as being fully behind this development to get it up and going sooner rather than later,” he said. 

The new school is a joint venture between the province, Prairie South School Division and Holy Trinity Catholic School Division. It will consolidate Sacred Heart, St. Mary, Empire and Westmount schools into one building on South Hill. 

The province initially announced funding for the project in 2020. At the time, the project was estimated to cost about $50 million. 

“We recognize the inflation in the market and the government has been committed to the 25 per cent and we recognize the importance of this project,” Lawrence said. 

In the latest report for the City of Moose Jaw, the school divisions plan to put out a tender for the construction of the school this month and award it in February and shovels hit the ground in May at the earliest.  

The city is currently going through the bylaw and rezoning processes for the school which could take four to six months before construction can begin.