History of Gilchrist School in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada forgotten.

Gilchrist School was an elementary school that was known as Gilchrist Elementary School that operated in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada. The mine backfill was used for the school foundation.

As cited in the Ottawa Journal,  “Officials said at first the radiation came from land fill but later in the news conference said it came from the ground but not necessarily the land fill. Further details on the source of radiation were not immediately available. Deputy Environment Minister Grant Mitchell said the only school with an acceptable radon level, Gilchrist School, was the only one with a functioning air exchange system. It was closed as a precautionary measure. He said the higher levels at the other schools could be traced to poor ventilation.” 

In houses with closed windows and no other ventilation system. Mr. Mitchell said air exchange systems are being installed at the schools and the schools will be reopened if checks Monday show acceptable radon levels. The radon levels were discovered as part of a general survey of areas where uranium has been or is being mined.”
(Ref: The Ottawa Journal, Page 22, Friday, March 5, 1976)

Winnipeg Free Press stated, “Environmental officials said Thursday three schools in the northern Saskatchewan community of Uranium City have been closed because excessive radiation levels were found in two them. The officials told a news conference that radon gas, a type of radiation which is thought to promote lung cancer after exposure for long periods, was found In excessive amounts in two schools.”
(Ref: Winnipeg Free Press, RADON FIND CLOSES 3 N. SASK. SCHOOLS REGINA, Page 63, Friday, March 5, 1976)

So that meant high levels of radiation and radon effected the learning environment for Gilchrist School. Gilchrist School was the only school with a functioning air exchange system in that area. A Deputy Environment Minister shut down Gilchrist School for 1 month due to the high levels of radon.

The school building was burned down in the late 1990’s in a mysterious brush fire from a nearby forest. So only the concrete foundation remains. Nothing else remains.

Gilchrist School is located at the junction of Fredette Road & SK 962, Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada.