Setting a Standard for Canadian Education and Community Growth

A Deep Dive into Collaborative Growth, Student Well-Being, and Technological Innovation

 

Manitoba’s academic landscape has been defined by its educational excellence, community engagement, and cultural preservation. That’s largely due to the efforts of Frontier School Division.

Frontier School Division has long been a beacon of educational opportunity in northern Manitoba. It promotes strong community connections and innovative partnerships to ensure student success.

While academic excellence remains a core priority, the division’s leadership has taken bold strides to deepen community spirit, enhance cultural learning, and invest in the long-term well-being of its students and staff.

The higher strategy involves forming deeper relationships with government bodies to secure necessary funding for infrastructure improvements so that students learn in modern, well-equipped environments.

Prioritizing Indigenous ways of knowing and learning is equally crucial. Cultural teachings and language revitalization are well-embedded within the curriculum to create a more enriching and inclusive educational experience.

Engagement with Indigenous communities through land-based learning and cultural initiatives is a strategy that will continue to grow. It allows indigenous students to feel connected to their heritage while developing practical life skills.

Additionally, the division’s academic programs consistently evolve to meet students’ diverse needs, especially those related to post-secondary success or immediate entry into the workforce.

Strengthening the current workforce also remains vital at the community level.

By collaborating with post-secondary institutions, local businesses, and local health authorities, the Division has enhanced its recruitment efforts and expanded its technical and vocational training.

With all of these efforts combined, the Frontier School Division has emerged as a division where every student has equitable access to quality education.

It’s a grassroots organization where schools reflect the cultural and academic aspirations of their communities and where educators and leaders work hand in hand to create a learning environment that nurtures not just academic achievement but also identity, well-being, and lifelong growth.

An Inclusive Academic Pillar Preparing for Change

Frontier School Division is built on a robust operational framework that spans 37 communities in northern and rural Manitoba.

Governed by a 10-member elected board, the Division has established a lean yet highly effective structure.

“We cover about 585,000 square kilometres of this great Province we call Manitoba.  We have 37 communities with 39 schools and 80% to 90% of our students are Indigenous, Metis and Inuit”, says Chief Superintendent Tyson Mac Gillivray.

With an experienced Senior leadership team, each leader in the Division oversees specialized portfolios.

The Division has a clear organizational structure to ensure the implementation and accountability of its Division strategic plan.

The division has 15 education agreements with First Nation communities it partners with to facilitate the education of its largely indigenous student body.

Because of the division’s unique makeup and First Nation partnerships, its curriculum is specially designed to fit the cultural needs of its students by promoting land-based learning.

“They do land-based activities. We get our local elders involved, as well as local fishermen and trappers. They come and they teach the students their trade. So, students learn how to fish, trap, hunt, and even skin and prepare moose hides,” explains Division Board Chair Linda Ballantyne.

In fact, many schools within the Division operate culture camps in collaboration with First Nations councils and organizations such as the Misipawistik Cree Nation.

These culture camps offer students immersive experiences that blend traditional knowledge with contemporary education.

More than just extracurricular experiences, these programs serve as vital tools for identity-building, helping students connect with their heritage and develop a profound sense of pride in their culture.

Frontier School Division has also benefited from its engagement with Jordan’s Principle, a policy initiative designed to ensure Indigenous children receive the services they need without delays due to jurisdictional disputes.

Named after Jordan River Anderson, a child from a Frontier School Division community, this initiative has been instrumental in providing funding and support for various educational and wellness programs across the division.

Through Jordan’s Principle, schools have been able to expand learning opportunities beyond the classroom, offering programs that address both academic and personal development.

The funding has also allowed for collaborations with local health authorities and child and family services, ensuring that students receive the holistic support they need to thrive.

“Our board has been true to their convictions to ensure that these supports and programs are in place to make sure that our northern students have an equitable opportunity to learn in various ways. That includes the traditional academic way, engagement in athletics, technical vocational training, land-based learning, and the opportunity to revitalize and learn their language with language teachers in our schools,” Mac Gillivray explains.

In recognition of the decline of Indigenous languages within many communities, the school division has made it a point to integrate language learning into their land-based programming, ensuring that traditional languages remain a living and vibrant part of students’ educational journeys.

Building Stronger Infrastructure and Educational Partnerships

One of the key priorities for the Frontier School Division is addressing the aging infrastructure of its schools.

Many of the division’s buildings need significant repairs, and some schools struggle with outdated facilities that no longer meet the needs of students or staff.

The Frontier School Division recognizes that its students deserve the same high-quality learning spaces as their peers in other parts of the province.

With aging schools that can no longer support the community’s growing needs, the division is focused on building new facilities that will foster academic success and ensure that all students have access to the best possible education.

“There are a number of aging buildings, which means that there’s a lot of capital investment that would be needed to bring things up to date… there’s a lot of new standards and building codes that our facilities need to meet, so that’s where we’re focusing the more critical infrastructure update efforts” says Chief Financial Officer and Secretary-Treasurer Paul Critchley.

The Division is actively working with local, provincial and federal governments to secure funding for new infrastructure projects that will provide students with modern, safe, and functional learning environments.

It has already completed a fair number of projects, but there is still work to be done.

The division has upgraded the Frontier Collegiate campus in Cranberry Portage, renovated Cranberry Portage Elementary School, and completed three new gym floors at the Gillam, Mel Johnson, and Black River Anishinabe schools in past fiscal year.

Additionally, the division is involved in six feasibility studies for additions or new builds for First Nation communities.

Apart from its school buildings, one of the division’s most pressing challenges is staff recruitment, given that its annual turnover rate is approximately 20%.

In response, Frontier School Division has adopted a proactive approach, spearheaded by recruiter Kelly Lampkin, to establish strong relationships with post-secondary institutions nationwide.

These partnerships span from the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba to Brandon University, Queen’s University, and institutions on Canada’s East Coast, such as Dalhousie and St. Mary’s.

A particularly notable partnership is with Brandon University through the P.E.N.T. program, which has been instrumental in educating northern teachers since the mid-1970s.

Over the decades, this initiative has seen more than 400 graduates, equipping local educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to support their communities.

Beyond teacher recruitment, the division collaborates with the University College of the North to provide technical and vocational training opportunities for high school students.

These initiatives not only prepare students for future employment but also expose them to hands-on learning experiences in fields critical to the region’s economic and cultural landscape.

A Legacy of Stability and Inclusion

Despite its many accomplishments, Frontier School Division remains deeply humble, placing community success above individual accolades.

However, its work has not gone unnoticed. The division has had the honor of presenting at the United Nations in New York on its gardening program for northern communities, highlighting its innovative approach to sustainability and education.

Additionally, many educators within the division have received provincial and national recognition, including Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence and vocational leadership accolades.

As the Frontier School Division looks to the future, its leadership has outlined key priorities for the next two to five years.

A renewed emphasis on strengthening community relations is at the forefront of these efforts, ensuring that Indigenous perspectives and voices are integrated into decision-making processes.

Another critical focus area is student well-being, particularly mental health support. Recognizing the challenges that students and staff face, the division aims to expand wellness initiatives to create a healthier, more supportive learning environment.

“We want to strengthen and ensure that our youth and our communities are healthy, and their wellness and the mental wellness of our youth and our staff and our communities is a priority,” Mac Gillivray affirms.

Lastly, a major factor behind the division’s success is the stability of its leadership.

With school board members collectively contributing over 200 years of service, Frontier School Division benefits from a depth of institutional knowledge and a long-standing commitment to its mission.

This continuity has enabled the division to maintain a steady course while adapting to evolving educational landscapes and community needs.

As the Division approaches its Diamond Jubilee in 2025-26, it remains steadfast in its Mission: “Our Children, Our Success, Our Future”.

Through continued collaboration, cultural preservation, and investment in student well-being, Frontier School Division stands as a testament to the power of community-driven education.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Frontier School Division
What: A unique Canadian school division that focuses on a holistic approach to education, integrating cultural teachings, land-based learning, and academic excellence.
Where: Located in northern Manitoba
Website: www.fsdnet.ca