Whitehorse francophone high school location to be studied

The mayor of Whitehorse says it's too early to say if a francophonehigh school will be built next to the new F.H. Collins Secondary School, as a number of issues need to be worked out between the city and territory.

The Yukon government owns the land next to F.H. Collins Secondary School in Riverdale, which is currently home to a skateboard park. It was selected by the Yukon FrancophoneSchool Board as its preferred option for a new school, in April.

However, although the territorial government owns the land, it is managed by the City through development permits.Atraffic study and underground infrastructure study are needed to determine the site's feasibility for a new school, according to Whitehorse Mayor Dan Curtis.

The City is working with the Yukon governmentto complete the two studies this summer.

"We have to address these concerns to make sure that it's viable and possible, and the current infrastructure is adequate," says Curtis,specifically noting thata sewer main, located under the skate park, may be costly to move.

Scott Kent, Yukon'sminister of public works, says the studies could have an impact on the decision to build another school in Riverdale.

"We're anticipating that this will add some additional traffic, obviously," says Kent, "bringing some additional students to this area."

Kent says that a public input session on the results of the studies will be held this fall.