The anticipated opening of a new school in Burwash Landing, Yukon, has been postponed until 2028 due to design issues that did not meet seismic building requirements for the area. The delay was prompted by a discrepancy in the building code version used during the design phase, which was identified during a routine review by Fred Jay, the acting deputy assistant minister of the territory’s capital infrastructure delivery office.
The new school, Kêts’ádań Kų, was planned to replace the Kluane Lake School in Destruction Bay and was scheduled to open this year. The Kluane First Nation has advocated for a school in Burwash Landing for years, culminating in an agreement with the Yukon government in 2020 to develop the project.
Initial funding of $22.5 million was announced by the federal and territorial governments in 2022, with land clearing for the school completed the following year. However, Chief Bob Dickson of the Kluane First Nation noted that the original designs overlooked necessary safety and seismic measures for the region, requiring a redesign of the foundation, windows, and classroom spaces.
The delay will impact students like Samara, whose graduation from the new school was expected this year. Robert van Lieshout, the director of wellness and education for the Kluane First Nation, emphasized the importance of the new school in retaining families in the community and enhancing educational opportunities for students.
Despite the setback, construction efforts are ongoing, with expectations that the building will be enclosed this year, allowing interior work to progress through the winter. Chief Dickson remains optimistic about the project’s completion in 2028, aiming to bring positive developments to the Burwash Landing community.