On the south side of Highway 5 at the village of Kylemore, an imposing structure rises near the lake. The Fishing Lake First Nation will welcome a new multi-million dollar school later this year.

First Lake First Nation School Principal Melanie LaPlante is anxiously anticipating the Chief Sabitawasis School. The current school is a series of modular classrooms connected by an outdoor walkway. LaPlante says that the new facility will offer a full gymnasium and integrated classrooms for trade training and practical and applied arts. She says, "Right now the students have to be transported to the community rec centre and that means there is time taken off of each lesson just to get students there and back."

The cold winter has meant construction delays according to Geoff Pollock, Project Manager for Wright Construction. The original completion date had been scheduled for October 2019, but realistically, the building will most likely see completion in December with staff and students occupying the school in January 2020. 

Fishing Lake FN Chief Derek Sunshine is equally enthused about the new school. Among the impacts for the students, Sunshine includes, "Having their own facilities, proper facilities, that they've needed here for a long time. Having their own gymnasium and their own indoor school so they don't have to walk from classroom to classroom outside."

Chief Sunshine also sees benefits for the entire First Nations Community. He notes, "Our community will have a better sense of coming together. There will be more events in the evenings, on weekends. They'll have a place to do what's needed rather than waiting for something to open up for us. Moving forward, the youth, the children will have a better sense of belonging."

Sunshine explains that the school is named after one of the first leaders in the community, Chief Sabitawasis.