Sooke School District members and regional First Nations representatives broke ground on two new Langford schools at 3100 Constellation Avenue on Thursday morning.
Both the 500-seat Pexsisen Elementary and the 700-seat Centre Mountain Lellum Middle are part of a $55.2 million project led by Farmer Construction Ltd.
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The name B次元官网网址楶exsisenB次元官网网址� was gifted by the Songhees First Nation and means B次元官网网址榯he opening of handsB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址榯o have oneB次元官网网址檚 hands wide open.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t means two years from now, children will be welcomed into the building with open hands,B次元官网网址� elder Butch Dick of the Songhees First Nation said during the groundbreaking. He emphasized the name is a sign of gratitude and protection. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what the teachers are going to extend to the children of this school.B次元官网网址�
| Chief Russ Chipps of Beecher Bay First Nation spoke to the importance of the name of Centre Mountain Lellym Middle school. (Jane Skrypnek/B次元官网网址 Staff) |
The name B次元官网网址楲ellumB次元官网网址� was gifted by the Beecher Bay nation and means B次元官网网址榟ouseB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址榯he idea of community, where we raise our childrenB次元官网网址�.
B次元官网网址淭o me it means a place of coming together,B次元官网网址� said Chief Russ Chipps of Beecher Bay First Nation, adding that the school should be a place of equality.
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This incorporation of Indigenous language into the new school names is what Sooke School District trustee Ravi Parmar said he is most excited about. He also hopes the schools will help to accommodate LangfordB次元官网网址檚 every growing population.
Speaking with Black Press Media in July, Parmar said the district expects to see 400 new students per year with a total of about 15,000 new students by the end of the decade.
Both schools are expected to open by September 2022.
-with files from Aaron Guillen
Do you have a story tip? Email: jane.skrypnek@blackpress.ca.
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