Premier Scott Moe was in Moose Jaw on Thursday morning to announce a couple of provincially-funded projects that are taking place in the city.

He began his day at South Hill in the Westheath subdivision at the location for the future joint-use elementary school.

The new school is a collaboration between the Holy Trinity and Prairie South school divisions, the City of Moose Jaw and the Ministry of Education.

"This was an ambitious project no doubt. Four older schools, Sacred Heart, St. Mary, Empire and Westmount were to be consolidated into one $50 million joint-use school facility and today we know where this school is going to be built, right here in Westheath," Moe said.

Moe went on to say that the new school will truly be a community effort.

"Students, teachers, families, they will all be consulted in the design and the ultimate construction of this facility. We want to make sure this new facility will meet the needs of Moose Jaw when it opens in the fall of 2023 and will meet those needs decades after that."

Mayor Fraser Tolmie was also in attendance and said the new school wouldn't be possible without all organizations working together towards a common goal.

"This announcement today is a culmination of what collaboration can do. Two school boards collaborating and working together, recognizing the needs of combining two schools under one roof. That those two school boards, municipal government, the City of Moose Jaw, and the province of Saskatchewan can work together to ensure we provide education for generations to come"

Derek Hassen, board chair for Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, and Robert Bachmann, board chair for Prairie South School Division, spoke about the upcoming project.

Bachmann said the new school on has been a long time coming.

"The journey to this point at times has felt long. However, today is one big step along that roadway. At the end of this road is a 21st century school that will meet the educational needs of Prairie South students and families from southern Moose Jaw for decades to come."

Hassen echoed the comments that the announcement was a positive step forward.

"We are thrilled to be taking this next step in the construction of a new school on South Hill. This is a project that has been in the works for many, many years and we are so happy to see it come together."

Following the announcement, Moe headed to the site of the High Service Reservoir pumphouse to break ground on the construction of the new pumphouse.

The project received $3.9 million as part of the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP). 

According to the city, the High Service Reservoir Pumphouse stores two-thirds of the city's potable water and services over 20,000 residents.

Other projects in the city that received MEEP funding included $880,000 for the wastewater treatment plant blower project and $54,000 for COVID-19 protective measures.