Coaldale shows off new school and recreation centre

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Oct. 4, Prairie Winds Secondary School in Coaldale threw wide its doors for its official grand opening. Students, teachers, dignitaries, and guests packed the bleachers and seating area in the gleaming new gymnasium that will get plenty of high-intensity use in the years to come. The school is on the northwest edge of town and attached to the new Shift Community Recreation Centre, a high-end recreation facility that boasts a community track, an indoor turf soccer field, volleyball courts, a play centre and structures, and a squash court.

 The school is designed to accommodate up to 855 students from Grades 7 to 12 and was built by Ward Bros Construction. The grand opening ceremony kicked off with the school band performing O’ Canada, followed by brief speeches from a number of school and local officials. An Indigenous prayer was offered up and the gathering concluded with a jaw-dropping hoop dance by Jerrhan First Charger of Raymond. The young man’s performance was the highlight of the ceremony and received thunderous applause from the student body.

 School principal Curtis Uyesugi addressed the students, saying, “Opening a new school is something that almost never happens. You have the responsibility to solidify this school’s culture as a place of warmth, acceptance, and the high standards in everything that we do. This is the task that’s presented before you, and we all know you’re more than capable of rising to the challenge.”

 In spite of the hiccups along the way, Uyesugi said he was in awe of how incredible the facility is now. He has the distinction of being the last principal at Kate Andrews High School and now the first at Prairie Winds Secondary.

 Dave Driscoll, superintendent of Palliser School Division called the grand opening “a long time coming,” and commended all the community partnerships that clicked to propel the building project forward.

“But, it’s a building,” he said. “It’s not a great school yet. As the principal just said, to make it a great school it’s going to take the staff and students of today and tomorrow to make this an amazing place to learn, grow, and enjoy education and where you’re going in the future. I challenge you to take the step forward as staff and students and develop the culture that makes this a great school. Not an amazing building, but a great school that everybody wants to come to.”