FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Canora Community Reverses Trend of Decline, Opens New Adventist School After Years of Perseverance
CANORA, Saskatchewan – August 27, 2025 – After years of demographic shifts that saw the number of its schools dwindle to a four-year low of just three, the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church today celebrated a story of renewal and faith with the opening of the new Canora Christian School. The school officially opens on September 2, 2025, and represents the culmination of a determined, two-and-a-half-year effort by local parents and church members who refused to let their dream of a local Christian school fade.
The journey began in March 2023, when an influx of new, young families in the Canora area sparked a conversation with the conference education superintendent, Corinne Lindberg. Faced with complex requirements from the Saskatchewan Education Department’s Qualified Independent Schools (QIS) division, the community embarked on a long process of paperwork, inspections, and planning. Despite setbacks, including missing a deadline for the 2024 school year and a provincial election that put approvals on hold, their resolve never wavered.
The turning point came on August 18, 2025, with the official approval of their application. This victory was celebrated on August 23 at a dedication ceremony that drew a standing-room-only crowd, filling the Canora SDA Church sanctuary with members, students, parents, and supporters from surrounding churches.
“Even though it did take longer than planned, the parents and church members of Canora SDA Church never gave up the dream that has now become a reality,” said Lindberg. “We are blessed that we have another Adventist school in this conference to educate the students not only in academics but also in service to their Lord and the community around them.”
The ceremony featured a message from Pastor Francis Douville, who emphasized the school’s mission to provide “an education within the framework of the science of salvation.” A highlight was a heartfelt email from Pastor Ron Marshall, who was instrumental in the project’s early stages, expressing his pride that Canora now has an Adventist school for church and community children.
The Canora Christian School will initially serve 15 Kindergarten to Grade 5 students, with Rebecca Landry as the teaching principal.
About The Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference:
The Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church oversees the church’s work in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Territory of Nunavut. It supports local churches, schools, and care homes that serve the community.
Media Contact:
Corinne Lindberg
Superintendent of Education
Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference
clindberg@mansaskadventist.ca
(306) 244-9700 ext. 215
