Community members are invited to celebrate the complete Grand Trunk School modernization at its grand opening ceremony this Friday.
On Oct. 2, the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division (GYPSD) is hosting a formal celebration at 2:30 p.m., with tours of the Evansburg school beginning at 2 p.m. A barbecue lunch will be provided afterwards.
The division says West Yellowhead MLA Martin Long and other provincial and local dignitaries will be in attendance.
Construction of the modernized school began in 2023 and was completed earlier this year, in time for students to start the 2026-2027 school year in the new facility.
The project consolidated the Wildwood School (K-6), Evansview School (K-6) and Grand Trunk High School into one modernized K-12 facility.
“We’re very excited to have this consolidation take place. We’re very excited to have all of these students in this brand new building, and we’re excited to bring our staff together to support all the students,” said Superintendent of Schools Kurt Scobie
He also said the consolidation has created mentorship opportunities within the student body and a chance for greater collaboration among staff.
The modernization introduced upgraded learning spaces, career technology spaces, a food lab and a trades workshop. The new school also sports a gym that is double the size of a typical high school facility, with room to play two full-court basketball games at once.
“It is an amazing facility. Grand Trunk really has quite a history of hosting in the area, and they host sporting events all the time,” Scobie commented. He said it was important to the division that the gym was expanded so the school can host provincial activities and teams from the surrounding area.
The approximate cost for the overall modernization project was $34 million, and Scobie said the division committed an additional $3 million to support the gym expansion.
This year, 400 students have registered at the new facility, up from the 384 the division projected. In the 2025-2026 school year, 211 students attended Grand Trunk High School, 108 students attended the Evansview School and 68 attended the Wildwood School. Scobie said the new facility can accommodate more than 500 students at its maximum capacity.
Inside the modernized Grant Trunk School in Evansburg. (Grande Yellowhead Public School Division/Supplied)
Inside the modernized Grant Trunk School in Evansburg. (Grande Yellowhead Public School Division/Supplied)
