The federal government has put the last piece in place to keep the ball rolling on the restoration project at the Little White School.
Arts and Heritage St. Albert, the stewards of the building, announced yesterday that the Government of Canada's Enabling Accessibility Fund is providing $75,000 to start phase two of the work immediately.
Dr. Alan Murdock, chair of the cultural organization's board, issued a statement that was effusive with praise for the support of what he called "an ambitious project" for one of the city's most recognizable municipal historic resources.
"Our thanks is extended sincerely to [Edmonton-]St. Albert MP Brent Rathgeber and the Government of Canada for honouring our heritage in this substantive manner," Murdock said.
The project, initially begun last spring, was divided into two phases, with the first involving exterior work, including work on windows, doors, stucco and weeping tile repairs. It also included the addition of a back building that would eventually house an elevator.
That elevator, along with interior work including a fully accessible bathroom, is now the first part of phase two. The second part will involve remodelling in the lower level to enhance the facility's storage and office space.
The overall cost of all phases of the project has been set at $637,310, with $127,000 coming from the city's Community Capital Grant Program and $100,000 from the province's Community Facility Enhancement Program. Arts and Heritage put in $154,000 of its own reserves as well.
This, along with several substantial donations from the private sector, still leaves a shortfall to complete the work. Project managers hope to start looking for other financial sources soon. Phase two is now on course to be completed in the summer of 2012.
Rob LeLacheur, chair of the Friends of the Little White School Committee, is enthusiastic about the continuation of the work in order to solidify its position on the hill.
"The Little White School is important to our community's past, present and future generations," he said.
Visitors to the site will notice that the face of the school is still the same but the new addition on the back has a different style, including a noticeable yellow paint job. This is intentional to not only preserve its architectural integrity but also to pay homage to its original colouring. It was painted white sometime after construction.
According to the design development report by David Murray Architects, the school is an excellent example of a typical two-room rural school, similar to many that were constructed around the province before and after the Second World War. This is the only one, however, that has been protected in Alberta and it is among the best preserved of the ones remaining.
Timing is everything
"It's a great relief," exclaimed Paul Moulton, Arts and Heritage St. Albert's executive director. "We got caught in a very long timeline."
Phase one was just wrapping up as this announcement came in and everyone just wanted to keep the ball rolling. Without this funding in place, work would have stopped and the anticipated completion would have been pushed back indeterminately.
The application to the Enabling Accessibility Fund went in a year ago. Things looked like they were moving along smoothly until a federal election was called for May. That hiccup stopped all grant approvals in their tracks.
"We waited through that election time and it was shortly after that, by our MP's office, that we [heard we] were going to be receiving funding."
That notification stipulated a waiting period of 60 days before the information could be released.
"We've been relieved for a little while. It would have been really a big shame to have created this back [addition] that would house an elevator and not be able to move into that piece."
Originally known as Father Jan School, the Little White School was built in post-war St. Albert to accommodate a growing student population in the town. Although its last official classes were held in 1987, it still plays an important role as a viable vestige of St. Albert's early education system and the first school board.
Arts and Heritage still hosts children's programming at the site and attendance increases every year. Even with limited access due to the restoration over the last year, its educational programs saw more than 2,000 students over the last school year.
Once the facility is universally accessible, its managers intend to increase its use by offering it to community groups for hosting meetings and other events and functions.
For more information on the building, the restoration, the fundraising or educational programming at the school, call 780-459-1194 or visit www.artsheritage.com.
