{"id":40564,"date":"2026-01-27T23:33:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T05:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swanriver.valleybiz.ca\/news\/?p=40564"},"modified":"2026-02-04T21:56:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T03:56:29","slug":"new-cultural-arts-centre-opens-at-svrss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swanriver.valleybiz.ca\/news\/2026\/01\/27\/new-cultural-arts-centre-opens-at-svrss\/","title":{"rendered":"New Cultural Arts Centre Opens at SVRSS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>ValleyBiz Story | <\/p>\n

On January 24, 2026, the Swan Valley School Division(SVSD) held the grand opening of their new Cultural Arts Centre at the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School. The $16.6 million expansion includes a 4,200 square foot cultural arts centre with a large auditorium and a raised stage, a 2,100 square foot multi-purpose room, and an outdoor teaching area. It will offer a place for the school and surrounding communities to connect through music, drama, dance and a wide range of other arts and culture programming.<\/p>\n

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To incorporate Indigenous learning and cultural practices, the space was developed in consultation with Indigenous community leaders, including Elder Caroline Quill from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, who spoke at the event.\"\"<\/a>
\n“This building is going to build foundations,” she said. “It acknowledges the history of our communities both Swan River and the Aboriginal people surrounding Swan River. And it’s very exhilarating to realize that, because that is something that was not taught when I was growing up.”<\/p>\n

The Cultural Arts Centre will celebrate Indigenous histories, cultures, languages, traditional values and worldviews, and will feature programming that incorporates oral traditions and storytelling, land stewardship and resource management presentations, medicine wheel teachings and smudging. Programming will also include jigging, drumming, powwows and hand drum singing. <\/p>\n

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SVSD staff, students and board members welcomed a number of dignitaries to the event including Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, Manitoba Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Minister Nellie Kennedy, Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation Chief Elwood Zastre, Sapotaweyak Cree Nation Chief Nelson Genaille, Manitoba Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations Glen Simard, Swan River MLA Rick Wowchuk, Lac du Bonnet MLA Wayne Ewasko, Northwest Metis Council Minister Peter Fleming along with a number of local municipal leaders. <\/p>\n

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The project was made possible through strong community partnerships and several grants from the Province of Manitoba.<\/p>\n

Click play below to watch the opening ceremony.<\/p>\n