The new-look high school in La Ronge finally got to celebrate its grand opening yesterday.

The newly-renovated Churchill Community High School has been in use for a year now.

The improvements include a new gym, stage and theatre area, learning centre, expanded Industrial Arts room and a dental lab.

The school can now accommodate more than 700 Grade 7-to-12 students and 32 child care spaces.

Education Minister Don Morgan says this building is distinct from new schools that open in southern Saskatchewan.

“(It) has tried to incorporate a lot of natural things into the school construction,” he says. “The gym floor is five feet below grade because it is part of a natural rock formation that’s here. And it’s designed to try and reflect First Nations culture and be reflective of First Nations values.”

Morgan also says the province’s investment was worth it.

“The facility that was here before was dated and was not adequately serving the needs of the community,” he says. “We knew that there was more new technology, bandwidth and things that we could put in. And so we made the investment of $27 million, which is all provincial money, and wanted to do something that was supportive of a community that’s active, vibrant and growing and something where we had the unique challenges of the north.”

More than half of Churchill High was newly constructed.

As part of yesterday’s ceremonies, the school was given a 3D modular printer by Regina-based furnishings firm Trade West.