Jarrad McCoy, a resident of Milk River and contractor, sees potential in repurposing the old Erle Rivers High School building to benefit the community. Instead of demolishing the building to make way for a new K-12 school, McCoy believes that the existing structure could be transformed into something new that meets the current needs of the community. He envisions the building being used for a variety of purposes such as a larger home for a local church, a daycare center for hospital staff, a senior accessible library, and most importantly, housing. McCoy notes that the lack of housing in Milk River has been a major challenge, with many professionals having to commute from other towns due to the limited options available in the area.
Retired doctor Liesl Lewke-Bogle agrees with McCoy, stating that the lack of housing units in Milk River has been a significant issue for the town. She explains that many residents are looking to sell their properties rather than rent them out, and newcomers to the community may be hesitant to commit to purchasing a home. As a result, healthcare professionals and other workers have had to commute from neighboring towns, impacting their ability to work in Milk River. The potential project to repurpose the old high school building could provide a solution to these housing challenges and make it easier for professionals to live and work in the community.
In 2023, McCoy presented plans to the Horizon School Board outlining his vision for repurposing the Erle Rivers High School building. However, the school board deemed the building to be in poor condition and ultimately decided to proceed with the demolition. Despite private investors offering to cover the costs of asbestos abatement and cancelling the demolition contract, the district has not engaged in further discussions with McCoy since the previous summer. McCoy believes that repurposing the existing building would provide a more cost-effective solution compared to new construction, as the structure is already in place and could be retrofitted for various uses.
Horizon School Division responded to McCoy’s interest in repurposing the high school building, stating that they had received conditional approval from the Government of Alberta to salvage the building based on a request from the Town of Milk River. However, the town council ultimately supported the decision to demolish the building. Alberta Education was also not supportive of modernizing the facility, citing the high cost of asbestos abatement. Despite these challenges, McCoy remains hopeful that further discussions can take place before the demolition proceeds, as he believes that the existing building offers a valuable head start towards completing housing units in a cost-effective manner.
Overall, the potential project to repurpose the Erle Rivers High School building in Milk River has sparked debate within the community. While some, like McCoy and Lewke-Bogle, see the project as a valuable opportunity to address the town’s housing challenges and provide much-needed amenities, others, including the school board and town council, have opted to proceed with the demolition. As the decision-making process unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the old high school building will be transformed into a new community asset or replaced with a new structure. Ultimately, the fate of the building will have a lasting impact on the residents of Milk River and the future development of the town.
