Kenora - Head Office Dryden Office

240 Veterans Dr – 4th Floor 79 Casimir Ave

Kenora, Ontario P9N 3Y5 Dryden, Ontario P8N 2Z6
Phone: (807) 468-5571 Phone: (807) 223-5311
Fax: (807) 468-3857 Fax: (807) 223-4703
Toll Free: 1-877-275-7771 Toll Free: 1-877-287-5430

MEDIA RELEASE

Sioux North High School in Sioux Lookout

welcomes staff and students

March 19, 2019

On Monday, March 18, 2019, our new school in Sioux Lookout, Sioux North High School, opened its
doors to welcome students and staff for the first time.

The new school has 513 pupil places with 23 classrooms. At a cost of $30 million, features of the
building include:

 Many large window and glass features throughout the building allowing for plenty of natural light
and open areas.
 A sizeable multi-purpose cafeteria/auditorium (or cafetorium) with full dramatic arts capabilities,
including telescopic seating, integrated lighting, elevated stage, and a sophisticated sound
system.
 New, state of the art equipment and spaces for shop classes, science labs, communication labs
and food and nutrition programs.
 New furniture throughout the building.
 A large and bright library with a wall of windows including a variety of seating options and work
stations for students.
 A gym with a hardwood floor and large windows that fill the gym with natural light.
 A new music room with skylights to allow natural light in and all new instruments to support the
music program.

The new school also includes spaces for our partners, including Confederation College and FIREFLY.

Wayne Mercer, Sioux North High School Principal, stated “Yesterday was a day that was long
awaited. Watching our students enter their new building and explore the hallways was a moment in time
that is hard to put into words. Our students and staff deserve this building and all of the opportunities the
new space offers is exciting. All of this couldn’t have been possible without the work of so many people,
as principal of the school, thank you to my staff and all of the Board employees who have worked tirelessly
to get the building ready, and to everyone that assisted us in making yesterday’s transition smooth for
our students. It was a day to remember and we look forward to making this new building home.”

Sean Monteith, Director of Education, added “From start to finish the new high school project in Sioux
Lookout, now known as Sioux North High School, has represented more than the construction of a new
building. It has always been about bringing equity and access to all students from Sioux Lookout, and all
of the North. It has been about a new beginning for our communities, our young people and bringing
equity of hope for their futures. It is an incredibly proud day and one that we will remember forever. The

WWW.KPDSB.ON.CA
All stakeholders create a culture of learning so that students come first.
Contact Sheena Valley, Communications Officer, in the Dryden Office at extension 247 regarding this release.
 Kenora - Head Office
240 Veterans Dr – 4th Floor
Kenora, Ontario P9N 3Y5
Phone: (807) 468-5571
Fax: (807) 468-3857
Toll Free: 1-877-275-7771
Dryden Office
79 Casimir Ave
Dryden, Ontario P8N 2Z6
Phone: (807) 223-5311
Fax: (807) 223-4703
Toll Free: 1-877-287-5430

young people of Northern Ontario deserve nothing but the best, and it is my hope as Director of Education
we have made this possibility a reality.”

Background

In April 2014, the KPDSB announced, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Education, the allocation
of $30 million to build a replacement school for Queen Elizabeth District High School in Sioux Lookout.
The architect contract for the new building was appointed to Evans Bertrand Hill Wheeler Architecture
Inc. in July 2014, with the construction contract being awarded to Everstrong Construction Limited in
August 2016 following two years of planning and consultations. Official construction of the building,
following site preparation, began in the summer of 2017.

A site blessing and groundbreaking ceremony for the new building was held in November 2015. In April
2017, following the work of a naming committee, Trustees approved the new name Sioux North High
School for the new school, honouring the suggestion of students on the naming committee to name the
school Sioux North.

Photos:

Entrance to Main Office

WWW.KPDSB.ON.CA
All stakeholders create a culture of learning so that students come first.
Contact Sheena Valley, Communications Officer, in the Dryden Office at extension 247 regarding this release.
 Kenora - Head Office
240 Veterans Dr – 4th Floor
Kenora, Ontario P9N 3Y5
Phone: (807) 468-5571
Fax: (807) 468-3857
Toll Free: 1-877-275-7771
Dryden Office
79 Casimir Ave
Dryden, Ontario P8N 2Z6
Phone: (807) 223-5311
Fax: (807) 223-4703
Toll Free: 1-877-287-5430

Cafetorium

Library

WWW.KPDSB.ON.CA
All stakeholders create a culture of learning so that students come first.
Contact Sheena Valley, Communications Officer, in the Dryden Office at extension 247 regarding this release.
 Kenora - Head Office
240 Veterans Dr – 4th Floor
Kenora, Ontario P9N 3Y5
Phone: (807) 468-5571
Fax: (807) 468-3857
Toll Free: 1-877-275-7771
Dryden Office
79 Casimir Ave
Dryden, Ontario P8N 2Z6
Phone: (807) 223-5311
Fax: (807) 223-4703
Toll Free: 1-877-287-5430

Gym

Second Floor Hallway

Cecile Marcino Sean Monteith

Chair of the Board Director of Education
-30-

WWW.KPDSB.ON.CA
All stakeholders create a culture of learning so that students come first.
Contact Sheena Valley, Communications Officer, in the Dryden Office at extension 247 regarding this release.