A new learning centre in Fernie has officially opened its doors. The Southeast Kootenay School District celebrated the grand opening of the Kootenay Learning Campus yesterday. Distributed learning increases student access, choice and flexibility for study outside of classroom schedules.

School District 5 board chair Frank Lento says the campus will be available for everyone. “They’ll be supported,” Lento says. “We’ll have staff in there, we can bring in whatever support people we need to help the learners. These individuals will be free to be themselves. It’s just an exciting place, a great place for learning. A very special place.”

Students will have access to individual learning areas, meeting rooms, personalized electronic programs and a 45 seat presentation theatre.

Lento says the campus will be run by a great staff including Fernie Secondary School vice principle Rachel Romero. “From the vice principle from Fernie Secondary Rachel Romero,” he says. “She’s well versed in distributed learning and continuing education and all those aspects of it. We’re going to take some baby steps and make sure that the governance of that whole new learning outlook will meet the needs of our whole district.”

The renovations to the campus’ office space were managed by architect Catherine Chernoff.
Approximately $1.9 million in renovations were completed to create a modern learning space that compliments Fernie’s historic downtown.