Rural Renaissance: Reviving the Community of Holden

Rural Renaissance: Reviving the Community of Holden

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

It was standing room only as students, parents, families and community members gathered for the official grand opening of Holden Rural Academy.

An estimated 300 people attended the grand opening celebration which included tours, supper, speeches and silent auction. There was plenty of laughter and tears during the history making event.

Dignitaries and elected officials were among the many faces in the crowd. Holden Rural Academy, (HRA) Superintendent Wes Oginski welcomed everyone before introducing Justin Ewasiuk, Chair of the Board of Directors.

Ewasiuk had many people to thank and introduced board members who were in attendance and acknowledged everybody who has contributed to the success of HRA.

“The amount of work and dedication that has been put in by so many people has been incredible to get the school to where it is today. I think I can speak for the entire board when I say that when this started we didn’t realize how big a task this was going to be to get this project up and running.

Moments after the ribbon is cut by student Rebekah Abbott.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Seemingly endless paperwork and phone calls and meetings made it feel as though it would never happen. Yet we pressed on. I don’t know how many times me and Karla (Janzen) talked on the phone hoping all this work was not for nothing. Karla and Gail, (Alger) put in countless hours talking to the minister’s offices and filling out paperwork. We’d climb over every little hurdle till we finally got our go ahead. The only issue was that it was in the middle of July and we still didn’t own the building or have any staff hired.

The excitement was then quickly replaced by the realization that we had mere weeks to hire an entire staff and to finally secure the building. With 72 hours to spare before the first day of school was to start we had hired the rest of our staff and received the keys.

There’s a lot of guests in this crowd tonight who came together on that weekend to help with the school clean and as ready for the students as could be in such a short time, and for all of you that did that I’d like to give you a round of applause right now.

They say that a school is the heart of a community, and looking out into the crowd right now I can see that it’s true.”

From L-R: Camrose Constituency MLA Jackie Lovely, Karla Janzen, and Beaver County Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Superintendent Wes Oginski said, “Last July a dream became a reality when the Minister of Education approved the Holden Rural Academy Society Charter. The Charter has a vision to provide educational opportunities to rural students to achieve academic success to relevant, authentic, diverse experiences. Through hard work through the board our staff and invested community members, our academy opened its doors in September of 2022.

Holden Rural Academy seeks to meet the unique needs of our rural students. It is an education that validates the rural experience, collaborates with local businesses and organizations and is accessible to every student. Place based education as outlined will meet the needs of junior and senior high students with flexible programming tailor made to the particular needs of each student.

Camrose Constituency MLA Jackie Lovely remarked that she had been talking to people in the crowd and said so many of them had stories of the school and that it was great to have it operating again and providing students an opportunity to live and work in the community instead of moving to larger urban centres. “I see this as a path to keep rural Alberta alive. So, thank you.”

Student guides Mackenzie Olynyk and Nilan Kostyk.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Lovely brought greetings on behalf of Education Minister Adrianna LaGrange. In her message, the Education Minister offered her “most sincere congratulations” on the grand opening of HRA, “the province’s first charter rural high school.

When the parents had banded together to create the school, to the school leadership who accepted the challenge to provide students with the truly unique educational experience to the towns people and local businesses who helped bring the place based education philosophy to life. It is truly a village that is educating your youth.

I have been pleased to watch the development of the school, from its concept to a flourishing charter high school. Your resolve to keep your children in your community is commendable. And your community’s support and commitment to your children’s education is nothing short of inspiring.”

Beaver County Reeve Gene Hrabec attended Holden School and was emotional about his return and the new possibilities that are now being offered at HRA. He harkened back to the time several years ago years when the school was originally earmarked for the list of non-viable schools by Battle River School Division.

“Karla was one of the first people to contact me with her concerns.” Hrabec recalled the pivotal time during a school board meeting when the possible closure of Holden School was discussed. “We sat in the same room, here in this gym, and we heard the school board dictate to us the changes. Not providing everybody with even the chance to voice our concerns. We all left that meeting knowing that night that it was only a matter of time before one or both of the schools would be closed. The school board pitted us as parents and leaders to fend for themselves on a community to present somebody who would ultimately be a winner and someone who was going to be a loser.”

But no one could discount Karla Janzen and a small, but steadfast group of volunteers, “who worked feverishly to come up with a sustainable plan and move this project forward,” added Hrabec.

From L-R: Principal Brian Dewar, Student Mackenzie Olynyk and Secretary Cyndy Heslin.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

“Congratulations to all of you who got together to make this a success. I’d like to thank all the wonderful staff that you brought on board and for the students, we can’t forget them. Its success stories like this and Altario have made the provincial government take heed and provide a new funding model to ensure residents have a choice of education.”

Hrabec then presented the Queen’s Jubilee Medal to Janzen. “So, the reason I feel Karla should be awarded this honour is the fact that not only did she save this school, but she helped us in rural Alberta give students, and us as families an educational opportunity in our communities.”

People rose to their feet to applaud and cheer Janzen for all her efforts.

Janzen responded by stating, “You know they told us it probably couldn’t be done. You don’t have enough people. You don’t have enough resources. You don’t have the time. You’re not enough. And, without extraordinary effort, we couldn’t have done it… So, this award is not mine alone. I want to thank the people who worked with me and around me. And so, thank you Hank and my kids. Your support and your sacrifice meant so much.” She also thanked the board, staff and volunteers who are now carrying forward our vision and putting in the extraordinary effort needed to make this Academy so successful.”

Attendees also heard powerful and moving personal experiences from students Rebekah Abbott, Eric Woode, Ethan Kirby, Cayden Brisson and Cheyenne Suchy. Abbott, Student Council President, told attendees about Principal Dewar, the great teachers, staff and board members.

“We also want to thank the people and businesses who take time to provide work experience for the students. We are so glad to be learning outside the textbooks and classrooms. Holden School is great for their flexibility. It is great to have a school that works for us and that truly puts students first,” stated Abbott.