City of Winkler | 13 Winkler. At the northern end of the city, a new high school is anticipated to open this September. Known as Northlands Parkway Collegiate, the $32.1 million development comprises more than 112,000 square feet of new construction designed by Prairie Architects and built by Penn-Co Construction. The school will provide arts and academic programming for 800 to 1000 students. Through a partnership with the Garden Valley School Division, Winkler has been paving roads leading to the school and plans additionally call for the developing an enhanced pathway network through the community, which includes sidewalks connecting the new high school to Garden Valley Collegiate, as part of more than $300,000 the city is investing in pathways. The building of a new police station is expected to be completed by the end of this October. This project (deploying design services by Funk Architects of Winnipeg and general contractor services from Mordenbased Cornerstone Construction) will result in a new station that will be more than three times the size of the former station that was part of the Civic Hall. Botha says the refurbishing and expansion will add offices, cells, a lunch room and gym, interview rooms and enhanced lobby area. “This expansion really enhances the existing Civic Hall building and gives the Police Service a unique identity,” says Botha. Canada’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund has also provided some $65,000 in support of Winkler’s P.W. Enns Centennial Concert Hall. The funds will cover costs in renovations and upgrades to the audio, heating and cooling systems, a project that Botha refers to as “maintenance” more than a major infrastructure project. Yet, when completed, the improvements will reportedly provide make for a more meaningful performing arts experience, as the concert hall traditionally stages more than 40 annual programs enjoyed to audiences totally more than 25,000 people each year. As Botha observes, something is, indeed, happening in Winkler. For all that happening, it is benefitting residents of all ages by creating new job opportunities, new recreational opportunities, new educational opportunities complemented by new and improved services and resources to support future growth inWinkler, a city that is seemingly changing with the wink of an eye.
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