Image courtesy The Independent Printers LTD. Copyright

On April 4, 1997 Education Minister Pat Akinson came to Biggar to make the formal announcement of a major capital construction project for the Biggar School Division. An announcement on behalf of her colleague, Bernie Weins and the Government of Saskatchewan. Part of the project was an architectural study to determine if anything could be salvaged from the original BCHS built in 1957 and the possibility of joining Woodrow Lloyd School with the new facility. The study would also look at a joint-use facility with other local services.


With this approval the Board chose architectural firm Friggstad Downing Henry to begin the work of designing the multi-purpose school. The firm invited 40 people - students, local boards, parents, the health district, regional college and the municipalities to join the board in the new facilities design. The vision was to create an integrated joint use facility with a post-secondary facility and wellness centre, thus Prairie West Regional College and Greenhead Health District were part of the planning. Consensus was that there would be no salvaging of BCHS, that the construction would involve extensive renovation and bringing up to code of the Woodrow Lloyd School to blend with the new construction and all that all elementary grades would be part of the one school.

Photograph courtesy Biggar Central School 2000 Archives Committee Board Chair Mary Ann Assailly adddressing crowd at school opening To her left are several other members of the Board of Education. L-R: Art Klassen, Don Morton, Mervin Stepko and Wilbert Basler- Vice chair.

A priority was that the materials used be of the highest quality without being too costly and we have a durable school to remain for many years. Another that the schools design be functional and practical to provide for a wide range of programs and services. Program needs were met with the planning of a developmental centre, resource-centre library, home economics laboratory, multi -activity industrial arts laboratory, two science laboratories (one with an adjacent greenhouse), two computer laboratories, a band/music room, a visual arts laboratory and a regulation size gymnasium with adjacent stage. It was important the Biggar School Division continue to honour Woodrow Lloyd, a former principal and premier of Saskatchewan by retaining his name on the primary gymnasium.

The Greenhead Health District planned the wellness facility to enable students access to public health staff, counselors and health related learning resources.

The Prairie West Regional College part of the facility was planned to allow the two educational facilities to share educational spaces and to cooperate on service delivery to their student clients.

The completed project design was put to tender and in January 1999 the tender submitted by Graham Construction was accepted with Brownlee Beaton Kreke as structural engineers (Brian Brownlee BCHS grad). The construction phase began with the Sod Turning of the Joint Use facility on March 14, 1999. Dignitaries from the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Greenhead Health District, The Biggar School Division, Biggar Local Board of Trustees, Engineers, Contractors, School Administration and students were present. From that date the contractor was able to keep the project ahead of schedule and have classes ready for classes to begin in February 2000.

The name Biggar Central School 2000 was chosen. "Central" for several reasons. The school centralizes the three public schools in town, it serves a large regional area and interestingly provides an historical connection to the original Central School built in 1910. Thanks to the Graduating classes of 1960-1966 the original Central School bell was refinished and installed in the Open Area of the new Biggar Central School 2000.

Photo courtesy Biggar Central School 2000 Archives Committee Ribbon Cutting Ceremoney with students holding the ribbon. L-R: Mary Ann Assailly, Chair, Board of Education; The Hon. Jim Melenchuk, Minister of Education; The Hon. Pat Atkinson, Minister of Health; & Betty Shapka,chairperson Greenhead Health Board.

Over a period of several months we watched at the design went from conception to reality. The Official Opening of Biggar Central School 2000 and Wellness Centre was held on April 14, 2000. Dignitaries included The Hon. Jim Melechuk, Minister of Education, The Hon. Pat Atkinson, Minister of Health, the Biggar School Division, the Green head District Board, the Biggar Local Board of Trustees, the Administration of both boards, the Town of Biggar, RM's and villages representative and most importantly staff and students.

The Official Opening of The Prairie West Regional College was hosted on October 18, 2000.Dignitaries present were The Hon. Glenn Hagel, Minister of Post Secondary Education and Skills Training, the Prairie West Regional Board, representatives the Biggar School Division, Green Health Board, the Town of Biggar and staff and students. I

In 1998 a committee representing the Biggar Board of Trustees, The P.T.A., the teaching staff and senior students began to dream of planning a playground and park as a setting for Biggar's new school. During the planning the idea shone that the park could celebrate Sandra Schmirler's curling achievements. Sandra agreed providing the park be a safe, fun and attractive place for all in the school and community. Plans evolved with St. Gabriel members coming on board. The name Sandra Schmirler Olympic Gold Park was chosen, A Canadian Millennium Grant was secured along with ambitious fundraising and securing of sponsorships. The Sod Turning was held on February 10, 2000 and the volunteers had plans to develop the entire school property, to seek professional help in design and logistics and secure sponsorship, lots of sponsorship. On August 6 2000 the dream became a reality and the park, Memorial Wall and Wall of Fame were opened in honour the achievements and memory of our curling champion Sandra Schmirler.

Dignitaries present included The Hon. Herb Grey, Deputy Minister of Canada, The Hon. Pat Atkinson, Minister of Health, representing the Premier, Elwin Hermanson, MLA Biggar, Lindy Kasperski, MLA Regina and Crown Investments Representative; local dignitaries, the presidents of the Canadian and Saskatchewan Curling Associations, Sandra's family and Sandra's team members.

On February 17, 2001 Biggar Central School and the Sandra Schmirler Olympic Gold Park received the highest praise from the provinces architects as it took top honours in the 2000 Masonry Design Awards from the Saskatchewan Masonry Institute Inc., the Association of Professional Engineers of Saskatchewan and The Saskatchewan Association of Architects, for work on both the school and the park.

Nova Wood School was renamed the Nova Wood Centre and re-developed into space for the Biggar School Division #50, an alternate school program, the Biggar School of Dance, the Greenhead family centre and nursery school programs.

BCS 2000 Awards