Denise MacDonald would have liked to capture the moment when Giscome Elementary School's students got their first glimpse of the new building back in September.
"I wish we had a video camera because they were so excited," said MacDonald, a member of the school's parent advisory council who advocated for the school's replacement after mould issues and health concerns forced its 2009 closure and eventual demolition.
For the first time, many could play tag in a gym or walk in a building between classes.
"We realized when it opened that the kids had no memory of being in a full-sized school," said MacDonald, whose son was in kindergarten when the school closed and is now in Grade 6.
On Friday, the province is celebrating the end of that journey with a grand opening for the school, which is made up of a pair of modular-design buildings, a gymnasium and the East Line Activity Centre for the community.
"The grand opening means it's here and it's permanent and we can relax a little while as parents," said MacDonald.
It has 21 students ranging from kindergarten to Grade 7, down from the 28 enrolled when it closed, MacDonald said.
The six-year road to its replacement was both a frustrating and rewarding experience for her.
"Very rarely does David gets Goliath, but we did an amazing thing," said MacDonald.. "It was an emotional roller coaster."
The project cost $2.4 million, of which $556,000 was contributed by Willow River-Upper Fraser (Area F) regional district, with help from community grants from the province.
Trustee Sharel Warrington, who was the school board chairperson when the it opened, said the residents' determination that made the difference.
"This community just did not give up. That's who we really we need to credit for this," she said.
"They just worked so very hard and just persisted and the district, we listened, we supported their applications," said Warrington, who also singled out Kevin Dunphy, Area F director of the Regional District , for his efforts.
Keeping the school, located 41 kilometres northeast of Prince George, means parents don't need to worry about long bus rides for their kids, Dunphy said. It will serve families living in Upper Fraser, Sinclair Mills, Longworth, and Willow River.
Dunphy said the site is already becoming a community staple as a meeting spot and a place to hold events.
But getting to this stage has been an emotional thing for the area residents, he said.
"It's just a really happy story," said Dunphy, whose grandchildren attend Giscome. "We were pretty devastated when we thought we were going to lose our school.
Dunphy noted the look of the region has changed considerably, in part due to disappearing mills and logging operations, but the school represented a shift from that direction.
"So we feel like it's a bit of a resurrection of our community to look at the future and how we will function. It sort of always feels like we've been sliding backwards. We've turned that point and our community is moving forward in a very positive idea."
For MacDonald, it comes to equal access to quality education for students, regardless of where they live.
"I firmly, passionately believe that rural education is part of our culture in Canada and that all Canadians have a right to make that choice and that it is part of our national identity to be able to live in the country.
- with files from Ted Clarke
