Hospital demolition begins in Mattawa

Wow...a new school for 100 students (to take them away from a shared building) - and they got $9.8 million. Amazing that the new high school in Almaguin Highlands is building a school for 650 students and gets barely $20 million. Hmmmmm, why did they need a new school in Mattawa?

I think there was a problem in our multi-cultural society with the english and the french kids going to the same school, or maybe it was the catholics and the protestants, or some such foolishness.

should be ONE school board and none of this foolishness would happen. We would save hundreds of millions probably billions. This will never happen tho,way too sensible.

youpie.. finally happening... for people who don't know.. we pay rent at F.j. we were given 9.7 million dollars for our own school.. now tell me who would refuse a gift like that.. and continue to pay rent..

Sure there is contractor,s in mattawa starveing for work,but lol give the job to people in Tronto,

I supose when it,s time to build,the new high school some out fit from Toronto or Ottawa will get the contract to build it.

Is paying rent such a big deal??? No.... and given $9.7 million? Yeah, great... more money out of our coffers for something that WASN'T needed. There should be ONE school board like what was said above, and this wouldn't be a problem! WASTE OF MONEY!!!!

Bonzaicat, if you were offered a brand new house for free would you continue to pay rent for a small appartment.. as for one school board that is another issue..of course it would be an english one right.. as for who got the contract to demolish and build, we were explained why i went to a Toronto company.. instead of complaining here why don't you call the French school board and ask them why.. they will be happy to answer any and all of your questions.. if you want their number i will give it to you..

What a terrible decision! i tried to stop this happening but the powers that be are having their way!

This issues should never have been about the new school being built or not, lets face facts, mattawa and ONTARIO is losing a major historical asset. This is a historical issue, and a historical mistake. there was 5 other sites franco nord evaluated, and there were 2 other locations that were feasible to build on, but they chose to destroy history to build a new school.

For a town that now relies on tourism as its main revenue source, destroying historical landmarks 1 by 1 is also destroying the last remaining "industry" the town has left.

Its gone now, and can never be brought back! terrible decision.

as Winston Churchill once said "Do not let spacious plans for a new world divert your energies from saving what is left of the old." amen

I agree with camaromark. Check out the Ministry of Culture Heritage designation areas on the web. They are all SOUTH !!!! The Mattawa Hospital's preservation should have gone to a provincial tribunal. Shame on this government for endorsing this demolition to appease a select few.

If the old hospital, in its current state, could provide the community with 9.8million in revenue, than leave it there. Otherwise, build the school, and move one. Not a revenue generator for a small town. People would much rather look at the 3 crosses as a historic point ;)...Build the school!