'The focus here is on success': mmawyatitn centre opens in Regina

It'sa building that's been 14 years in the making, and nowRegina's mmawyatitncentre has finally opened itsdoors to the public.

North Central Regina is home to the new services hub, which officiallyopened on Tuesday morning and includes a high school, a public library, a recording studio and more.

"The focus here is on success and student success," said Bronwyn Eyre, Saskatchewan's minister of education. "Facilities such as this only help in that regard, to help our young people reach their fullest potential."

• A 'bittersweet' goodbye to Regina's 94-year-old Scott Collegiate
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The facility totals 108,000 square feet and cost $42.2 million. It's thefirst centre of its kind in Canada.

The namemmawyatitnmeans "let's be all together" in Cree. The centre requested the "M" in the namenot be capitalized because thereis no capitalization in the Cree language. Additionally, the facility will not be identified with the pronoun "the."

The centre houses:

• A First Nations elders' ceremonial room.
• Scott Collegiate High School.
• A 33-space child-care centre.
• A city recreational complex.
• A public library branch.
• A community policing centre.
• The Chili for Children food program.
• The North Central Community Association.
• The REACH programneighbourhood food store.
• A recording studio.
• A commercial kitchen area.

Work continues on a garden, soccer pitch, basketball court and green space for cultural teaching and storytelling. Most remaining construction is expected to be complete by spring 2018.

• Aerial view shows progress of Mmawyatitn Centre construction

Grade 12 student Cheyenne Kay said she couldn't wait to start classes at the new Scott Collegiate. She attended the former high school, which now lies in rubble besidemmawyatitn.

"Personally, I like high school," said Kay. "I love bio and chemistry, and I like the people here at this school because the teachers help youalot, and the students are friendly."