News release
For immediate release

Saanich, BC – Just in time for the first bell of the new school year, the District of Saanich has delivered dozens of desktop computers along with new mice and keyboards to the W̱SÁNEĆ ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Elementary School.

"Nothing is more important than a good education, so it’s important that as a District we take every opportunity to support students in their pursuit of knowledge," says Trevor Hurst, Chief Information Officer for the District of Saanich. "We were inspired to take action after learning about the profound impacts of our shared history, as we joined the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council in a recent naming ceremony and celebration at PKOLS." 

The 48 computers and 60 mice and keyboards will help to boost the school’s educational resources for the upcoming school year. This donation reflects the District’s commitment to ensuring all students have the tools they need to flourish.

“We are grateful for the donation and acknowledge the ÁTOL,NEUEL MOU, which connected the District of Saanich to us so that we could accept this wonderful donation,” says W̱SÁNEĆ School Board Chair, Chief Don Tom. “Today is the first of many to reconcile our histories. This will serve our students and the modern demand for technology in education.”

A collaborative way forward

In 2021, Tsartlip and Tseycum First Nations, through the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council (WLC), formalized their relationship with the District of Saanich through the signing of the ÁTOL,NEUEL (“Respecting One Another”) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This important agreement highlights opportunities for collaboration such as land acquisition, economic development, protection of ancestral sites and making W̱SÁNEĆ visible in W̱SÁNEĆ territory through art, place names and public education initiatives.

“This contribution was a wonderful way to demonstrate our commitment to our collaborative relationship that has been established by the MOU,” says Karen Ramsay Cline, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Manager. “We look forward to continuing to build on our partnership moving forward.”

Learn more

To learn more about the District of Saanich’s commitment and work toward decolonization and reconciliation with the W̱SÁNEĆ, Lək̓ʷəŋən, and Urban Indigenous People, please click here.

To learn more about the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council and its work to promote the interests of the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations and respect for W̱SÁNEĆ culture, traditional practices, and language, please click here.

To learn more about the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council’s work with local governments, please click here.

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Media contact:
Saanich Communications
media@saanich.ca