Presenting the soon to be Tri-Village Community Centre
The Wasa Elementary School, which was newly built when it opened in 1978, has remained closed since 2001. Since its closure, Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 has used the building primarily as a storage facility, with much of its contents consisting of items that could have been recycled.
For many years, the Province prohibited the sale of surplus school properties following the controversial sale of school land by a large coastal municipality. When the moratorium was lifted in 2023, school districts were once again permitted to sell surplus properties. This prompted members of the Wasa community to begin discussing the future of the former Wasa Elementary School and to initiate conversations with Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 regarding its condition and potential used.
In mid-2025 discussion began in earnest between RMSD6 and members of the Tri-Village Volunteers Society (the TVV). In October of 2025 a contigent from the community, including contractors and trades people, were allowed access amd given a tour of the school. Those in attendance found the school to be in surprisingly good condition. While stained and missing ceiling tiles in the hallway and several classrooms indicated there had been some roof leakage, it was subsequently repaired by RMSD6’s roofing contractor in 2019. A November 2025 inspection by the same roofing contractor saw no current leaks and it was indicated by them with some minimal repairs, the roof should be good for another five years. The school is heated with electricity, not a scary prospect in the era of solar generated electricity. The Wasa community hall, which has decimated its power bill by installing solar panels on its roof.
A June 2026 test of some of the classroom and hallway heaters found a few needing repairs but many working as designed. There have been break-ins and some vandalism over the quarter century the school has been closed with damage to some toilets and the interior windows in the library facing the hallway.
Many concrete block buildings experience structural movement, including cracking and settling, when constructed on poor soils and left unheated for long periods. The Wasa school has not experienced these issues. Built on naturally compacted sand and gravel deposited and compacted by glaciers, the site provides a remarkably stable foundation that has helped preserve the building's structural integrity. One knowledgeable Wasa contractor upon touring and inspecting the building called the building a “100-year structure” – meaning built to last. Another said it was “surprising how good a condition" the building was in.
Need to do some recycling before we can shoot baskets!
In October 2025 a verbal agreement was reached with RMSD6 that they would be willing to lease the property to the TVV for a nominal rent on condition we dispose of their unwanted items stored in the building, that with pre-approval by SD6 of any modifications to the building that they be performed by skilled tradespeople and that we assume insurance, operating and maintenance costs. This arrangement was considered beneficial for both parties. Market research conducted by Little Pines Daycare, which will be operated by another Wasa non-profit organization, indicated there was more than enough demand to fill all 16 childcare spaces planned for September 2026. From the perspective of Rocky Mountain School District No. 6, the agreement also provided a positive alternative to demolishing the school, allowing the building to be repurposed to meet an important community need.
The pickleball players on the tour were over-joyed at the prospect of being able to arc a ball higher than the eight feet that they are limited to in the current recreation hall. People dreamed aloud of winter basketball and badminton in a real gym (with its beautiful maple floors). One community member had started low level discussion with Interior Health on using the school as a local base for home care staff with maybe one to two days a week of a nurse practitioner being on-site. Everyone on the tour had ideas about how the community would make good use of the building.
However, within a few days, the Province of British Columbia became involved in the process. It was determined that the proposed lease agreement required review and approval by the Ministry of Infrastructure. Subsequently an Infrastructure civil servant interpreted the clause in the Crown Grant under which SD6 obtained the land stating “for so long as the land is used for school site purposes” to mean that SD6 must themselves operate a school on the land. We wrote to the school board showing examples of government policy encouraging (mandating?) day care at school sites and that as time has passed since the closure of the school, community use of excess capacity of local schools for recreation is commonly accepted as a school site purpose. While SD6 may have agreed with and been supportive our position, nothing changed with the Department of Infrastructure.
Looks like the kids left just a week ago!
On December 1st, we received a letter from Amber Byklum, Chairperson pf RMSD6 stating that they had been guided by the Ministry that if a school is no longer used as such, it should be returned to the province. It wasa stated that if the TVV were able to obtain a grant of the land, SD6 would then return the land to the province. The same letter noted that SD6 would be applying for funding to have the school demolished, something she expected would take 14 to 18 months - by this writer’s math, that’s somewhere between February and April 2027. The fact they are being compelled by the province to destroy a solid useful building is no reflection on the board and staff of SD6. They have been generous and patient in continuing to allow us access to the school as we conclude our structural evaluation.
“Our MLA, Scott McInnis, who has generously supported the community throughout this initiative, worked throughout January to coordinate an online "Teams" meeting between Tri-Village Volunteers, Jane Walter (RDEK Area E Director), and representatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure to discuss the proposed community lease and use of the school. At the Ministry’s request, we provided a detailed project timeline and extensive correspondence outlining our engagement with Rocky Mountain School District No. 6. The meeting was ultimately scheduled for early February, we were at our computers but Ministry representatives did not attend. No reason was offered.”
The lesson is still on the board
Since the leasing from the School Board option appeared dead, but relying on the Boards encouragement for us to directly acquire a land lease. we initiated discussions with the local Cranbrook WLRS representative responsible for Crown Grants and Nominal Rent Tenures (NRTs) to begin exploring available tenure options. We were advised that, due to staffing constraints, approval of community NRT applications may take up to three years. While TriVillage Volunteers, as a non-profit organization, is eligible to apply for an NRT, the RDEK may have the option to pursue a Crown Grant. If our lease application is successful, the RDEK could also potentially assume the lease and explore conversion to a Crown Grant over time.
Main Roof Looking North
On April 20, 2026 our determined MLA Scott McInnis arranged a meeting with senior people at WLRS on Crown Grants. An assistant deputy-minister led the meeting and referred questions to staff members present. They were pleasantly helpful, listened to our need and hope for the school and told us that a September 2027 creation of a Nominal Rent Tenure was a pretty ambitions timeline, but that sometimes things happen quickly. Because of the sequence of approvals, the TVV may need to apply directly for the NRT rather than waiting for the RDEK process to conclude, give that this is a municipal election year and there is probably no RDEK staff time to organize a referendum before or concurrent with the municipal election.
Orange is a great colour for a day care
Unfortunately, for the families hoping to access Little Pines Daycare, a September 2026 opening now appears unlikely. The group identified a smaller temporary facility within the local Community Church; however, this option would only accommodate a three-day-per-week program and efforts to recruit an Early Childhood Educator have been unsuccessful, likely due to the limited number of available hours.
This week, a new member of the Wasa community reviewed the progress made to date and provided a fresh perspective. Considering the short timeline associated with Rocky Mountain School District No. 6’s potential demolition funding, the lengthy processing time anticipated for a Nominal Rent Tenure, and the delay in establishing the daycare, she emphasized the urgency of preserving the school as a community asset, stating: “We need the school now.”
This perspective reflects the current reality: while acquiring the school immediately may make a September 2026 opening challenging, securing the building would preserve the opportunity to establish Little Pines Daycare for January or September 2027 and ensure the long-term success of this important community initiative.
Girl's Bathroom - Note the mosaic tile floors
The Honourable Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure, has an opportunity to help resolve this situation by supporting a practical interim solution. While Ministry processes are designed to serve communities across the province, the challenges faced by smaller rural communities can sometimes require flexibility and consideration of local circumstances.
A short-term lease agreement between Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 and the community would provide a timely solution, allowing Little Pines Daycare and the broader community to begin utilizing the facility while TriVillage Volunteers completes the Nominal Rent Tenure process, or while the RDEK explores the potential Crown Grant pathway. A two- or three-year lease would preserve this valuable public asset, prevent unnecessary demolition, and provide the time needed to establish a long-term ownership or tenure arrangement.
The Honourable Brittny Anderson serves as British Columbia’s Minister of State for Local Government and Rural Communities and is the MLA representing the neighbouring Columbia River-Revelstoke riding. Her regional connection and understanding of rural community priorities provide an important perspective on the challenges faced by smaller communities such as Wasa.
MLA Scott McInnis has reached out to Minister Anderson to request her support in advancing the Nominal Rent Tenure process. We are awaiting a response and remain hopeful that her office may be able to assist in navigating the process and identifying opportunities for an interim solution. Given the importance of preserving this community asset and the urgency created by the potential demolition timeline, we hope Minister Anderson can help facilitate a short-term lease arrangement while longer-term tenure options are pursued.
Would it not be a far better outcome for our community, our region, and our province to see government representatives standing alongside residents to celebrate the opening of a revitalized community centre, rather than watching a valuable public asset be lost to demolition? The image of an excavator tearing into the walls of a building that could continue serving families, children, and the broader community is difficult to reconcile when there is a viable path toward preservation and renewal.
We remain hopeful that, through collaboration and a shared commitment to rural communities, the future of this building can be one of celebration rather than demolition. Our hope is that, in early 2027, we will welcome both of you to Wasa to join our community in cutting the ribbon on a new chapter for this treasured facility—alongside MLA Scott McInnis, whose continued efforts and support have been instrumental throughout this journey.
The Wasa Elementary School, which was newly built when it opened in 1978, has remained closed since 2001. Since its closure, Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 has used the building primarily as a storage facility, with much of its contents consisting of items that could have been recycled.
In October 2025 a verbal agreement was reached with RMSD6 that they would be willing to lease the property to the TVV for a nominal rent on condition we dispose of their unwanted items stored in the building, that with pre-approval by SD6 of any modifications to the building that they be performed by skilled tradespeople and that we assume insurance, operating and maintenance costs. This arrangement was considered beneficial for both parties. Market research conducted by Little Pines Daycare, which will be operated by another Wasa non-profit organization, indicated there was more than enough demand to fill all 16 childcare spaces planned for September 2026. From the perspective of Rocky Mountain School District No. 6, the agreement also provided a positive alternative to demolishing the school, allowing the building to be repurposed to meet an important community need. 
On December 1st, we received a letter from Amber Byklum, Chairperson pf RMSD6 stating that they had been guided by the Ministry that if a school is no longer used as such, it should be returned to the province. It wasa stated that if the TVV were able to obtain a grant of the land, SD6 would then return the land to the province. The same letter noted that SD6 would be applying for funding to have the school demolished, something she expected would take 14 to 18 months - by this writer’s math, that’s somewhere between February and April 2027. The fact they are being compelled by the province to destroy a solid useful building is no reflection on the board and staff of SD6. They have been generous and patient in continuing to allow us access to the school as we conclude our structural evaluation.
Since the leasing from the School Board option appeared dead, but relying on the Boards encouragement for us to directly acquire a land lease. we initiated discussions with the local Cranbrook WLRS representative responsible for Crown Grants and Nominal Rent Tenures (NRTs) to begin exploring available tenure options. We were advised that, due to staffing constraints, approval of community NRT applications may take up to three years. While TriVillage Volunteers, as a non-profit organization, is eligible to apply for an NRT, the RDEK may have the option to pursue a Crown Grant. If our lease application is successful, the RDEK could also potentially assume the lease and explore conversion to a Crown Grant over time. 
On April 20, 2026 our determined MLA Scott McInnis arranged a meeting with senior people at WLRS on Crown Grants. An assistant deputy-minister led the meeting and referred questions to staff members present. They were pleasantly helpful, listened to our need and hope for the school and told us that a September 2027 creation of a Nominal Rent Tenure was a pretty ambitions timeline, but that sometimes things happen quickly. Because of the sequence of approvals, the TVV may need to apply directly for the NRT rather than waiting for the RDEK process to conclude, give that this is a municipal election year and there is probably no RDEK staff time to organize a referendum before or concurrent with the municipal election. 
