St. Frances Cree Bilingual School

Project Overview

The Government of Saskatchewan and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools jointly sponsored the construction of the new St. Frances Cree Bilingual School (awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik), a Pre-K–9 facility located in Saskatoon on Treaty 6 territory. Graham served as the General Contractor.

Site and Building Details

Completed on a 4.1-acre brownfield site, the three-storey, 9,390 m² (approximately 101,000 sq. ft.) school was designed to accommodate up to 700 students and includes childcare space for 70 children. The project replaced an aging structure that no longer supported growing enrollment.

Architectural Features

The exterior features segmented precast concrete panels set to a curved radius across multiple levels. These panels are imprinted with Cree syllabics and finished with a white stain, reflecting the building’s strong cultural and community identity.

Interior Spaces and Programming

Inside, the school offers a broad range of instructional and support areas, including general classrooms, teacher collaboration zones, a resource centre, a gymnasium, and activity spaces. Indigenous arts and sciences (STEAM) spaces support specialized programming and cultural learning.

Specialized Cultural and Wellness Spaces

Unique spaces within the school include a Research and Learning Greenhouse, Elders’ Teaching Room, Medicines Lab, and a Child and Family Wellness Centre. Additional amenities include administrative offices, a basic wellness clinic, cultural and family rooms, nutrition programming areas, and community kitchens with refrigeration.

Site Development

The completed site includes landscaped areas with stones, trees, shrubs, and grass; walkways; basketball half-courts; an open sports field; and a parking lot equipped with electrified outlets. Interior rooms incorporate extensive glazing and a variety of door assemblies—including single, double, and garage-style doors—to support flexibility of use.

Educational and Community Impact

The school reflects the voices and priorities of First Nations and Métis families and communities in creating an innovative Cree/English dual-stream learning environment. Ninety-nine percent of students identify as Indigenous, with learners attending from 57 Saskatoon and area communities, including 55 First Nations communities.