‘Growing demand’ for high school in White City, Emerald Park area, says NDP

The town of White City is once again calling for the creation of a high school and new elementary school for the area.

The town said these projects are needed to accommodate its growing population, which grew by 23 per cent between 2016 and 2021.

In 2021, White City had a population of 3,702 — of that 1,020 of them were under the age of 15.

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For students in the Prairie Valley School Division, the nearest high school to them is Greenall High School in Balgonie, which is just over 10 kilometers North West of White City.

“We have been (advocating for) a long, long time,” said White City Councillor Shahnaz Sultana.
“We have been working on it. It’s a growing demand from residents.”

She added that numerous residents have voiced concerns about the issue.

The neighbouring unincorporated community of Emerald Park is also without a high school.

Emerald Ridge Elementary school is operating at 115 per cent capacity and École White City School is at its recommended enrollment limits.

NDP education critic Matt Love said this situation was predictable and avoidable — and was at risk of getting worse without action from the government.

“We’ve seen other communities in growing and growing centers in Saskatchewan — they’ve seen from the time that they’ve asked for a school to be built to when construction actually started – the costs are only going to go up,” he said.

“The needs are only going to go up. The population here is only going to go up. So the longer that the Sask. Party government drags its feet and fails to focus on the future needs of these communities, the more it’s going to cost taxpayers and the more it’s going to cost families here in these communities who want a school right here for their children to attend.”

NDP municipal affairs critic Jared Clarke said it’s important for students in Emerald Park and White City — who have a combined population of over 5,000 people, to have a nearby high school that doesn’t require them to travel.

“Myself, as municipal affairs shadow minister and another of my colleagues have met with town council here within the last month and one of the things that we heard loud and clear was (that) a high school acts as a real hub for the community. It brings the community together for sports events or musicals or choir concerts,” Clarke said.

“This is a community that is lacking that. They don’t have a high school that brings the community together. And when you’re sending students into Regina, into Balgonie, I think the community misses out on those opportunities.”

Sultana and the MLAs pointed to an online petition signed by parents in the White City and Emerald Park areas.

In an emailed statement to 980 CJME, the Ministry of Education said it is working closely with school divisions to address their top capital needs, but the construction of a high school and new elementary school was not one of the top three needs listed for 2026-27.

“The 2025-26 Education Budget includes $140 million to support 26 new or replacement schools and three major renovation projects that are currently underway,” read the email.

“For Prairie Valley School Division specifically, the Government of Saskatchewan addressed their top capital priority in 2023 with a new renovation and expansion for Greenall High School.”