Peavine celebrates new infrastructure projects

Mac Olsen
For South Peace News

Peavine’s new sign on the outskirts of the community reads “Settlement of Champions,” and the community is touting its future K-12 school, hockey arena, soccer field, two baseball diamonds, a playground and sewage lagoon as proof of its success and growth. The community held a sod turning ceremony in the arena parking lot on Aug. 22. Many dignitaries attended, including Hilma Supernault of the Peavine school board and MLA Pearl Calahasen. Supernault spoke on behalf of Joanne Anderson, the school board chairperson. Supernault says the opening of a new K-12 school is a joyous occasion, and it’s something she has always wanted. She also says that members of the school board, past and present, have worked hard to get the new school, as has the settlement council. No longer will the children have to leave Peavine to complete their schooling, as they had to for Grades 7-12. The new school will open in September 2008. “Having a K-12 is the answer to the education of our children. I’ve always believed that. This is our opportunity,” Supernault says. “I want to thank all of you for working hard for this dream, (and) for helping the board.” She encourages residents to be champions of their education system. Youth are of great importance to Alden Armstrong, the president of the eight Métis settlements in Northern Alberta. He says that having an education facility and the ability to keep children home is going to create opportunities for them. “There has to be more emphasis on capacity building. It’s the main thing that will carry us. If our kids are healthy and they have a good education, and they have opportunities at home, then that’s going to carry us into the next generation.” MLA Pearl Calahasen says her constituency has been blessed with a lot of activity, and she congratulates Peavine for its new infrastructure projects. She also commends Northlands School Division for making the community a priority, and the school board for its efforts to get the school built. “It’s been a dream for nine years. I remember talking to the school board representatives, the past as well as the present, to tell you that you had to work through the school division in order for us to be considered a priority. At that time, Northlands School Division did not see this as a priority.” Calahasen also says that, as a result of the school board’s efforts, she was able to lobby the provincial government for the funding to get the school built. Finally, she commends Peavine for continuing to push for change and improvements. Peavine’s growth is significant to Ken Noskey, the chairperson of the Peavine Métis Settlement. He was born in a log cabin in Peavine 50 years ago, at a time when there was no running water or power. But things have improved for Peavine since then, and they will continue to for generations to come, he says. “We will make a difference for our youth – our next generation – so they can have a better life. I think that’s the wish of every parent. The community is growing, and you need to be very proud of what we are here today.” Following the speeches, many in the audience joined three elders – Madeline Gauchier, Edmund St. Cyr and Nora Cunningham – for the sod turning ceremony. There followed a bus tour of the Peavine, and a dinner in the community hall across from the future arena.

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