Although honoured for its storied past, the future of Sacred Heart elementary school lives on in the students who continue to pass through its halls.
As it nears its 63rd anniversary in October - making it the oldest elementary school in the city - the school was the recipient of the Prince George Heritage Commission's 2012 Historic Places Award.
Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond and Heritage Commissioner Dr. Valerie Giles presented a plaque commemorating the honour to school principal Sister Irene Baker at Exploration Place Saturday afternoon.
"I feel like the 11th-hour worker because this is just my second year as principal of Sacred Heart school and how could I be so lucky to walk in and receive this award with really having not borne the burden of the day as so many people have done," said Baker, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
The school celebrated its official opening on Oct. 30, 1949 with 42 students enrolled in Grades 1 to 4. The Sisters of St. Ann ran the school until the Presentation Brothers took over in 1968. In those initial years, the school grew to having nearly 300 students enrolled in Grades 1 to 8.
"I want to say what an amazing role this place... has in our community's history," said Bond. "It's helped raise good citizens and good people and made a very special impression on the lives of many families and their children here in the city."
The Historic Places award was created to recognize the significance heritage buildings have in Prince George, Giles explained.
"Our mandate is to engender respect and appreciation for the history of the city. And part of that is respecting our built environment," she said.
The previous recipients of the annual Historic Places Award were the Blackburn Community Centre, Knox United Church, Moffat House and the Prince George Exhibition.
