Sask. community still struggling after losing school three years ago

It’s been three years since Stewart Valley lost its school to a fire, and the Saskatchewan community is still fighting to have it rebuilt.

Speaking at a recent event hosted by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, Stewart Valley fire chief Dan Barber said the people of the community just north of Swift Current have been left to deal with the issue alone.

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“We have kids right now that are on buses for an hour on gravel,” he said. “And if we don’t get our school back, we’re going to lose our community.”

The Stewart Valley School burned down after it was struck by lightning in late August of 2022. Firefighters were able to save the daycare next door, but weren’t able to save the school.

Barber said the community needs help.

“If you lost your school in your town, what would you have left? We need someone to step forward and build us a school,” said Barber.

Education Minister Everett Hindley promised that the school will be rebuilt. (Jennie Moen/Facebook)

The fire chief said that the school was more than just a place of learning for the community of Stewart Valley.

“Our community centre was in the gym, which we put major money into when it was built, and nobody’s talking to us,” he said.

“You can’t get our education system to tell us what’s going on with the school system.”

At that same SARM event, Everett Hindley, Saskatchewan’s education minister, said progress is being made on rebuilding the school.

“First off, the school in Stewart Valley will be rebuilt, full stop. There is no doubt about that,” Hindley said.

“I’m in the process of sending a letter to the Chinook School Division offering the assistance of myself as minister and of our ministry team, if there’s any assistance that we can provide to make sure that we expedite this project, to make sure we get it done.”

But despite promising action to help the community, the minister gave no hint as to when the community could see its school rebuilt.

At this point there seems to be little change when it comes to the ongoing battle between the community’s school division and its insurance company, which has been the main factor behind the pause in efforts to rebuild.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include information on the fight between the division and insurance company.