Exploring more history of Gilchrist School in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Gilchrist School is one of the few schools which operated in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada. Gilchrist School was an elementary school that was known as Gilchrist Elementary School that operated from 1966 to 1996. The school was later a combined elementary school and secondary school for grades 1 through 13.

Gilchrist School was built on a mine in 1966. The mine backfill was used for the school foundation. Gilchrist School was built using money from a bond election.


Ottawa Journal wrote about the high radiation rates at this school in their newspaper several times in 1976. This was not the only time Ottawa Journal would write a news article about the high radiation rates contaminating Gilchrist School. (Ref: The Ottawa Journal, Page 22, Friday, March 5, 1976)

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.”

The Ottawa Journal reported that Deputy Environment Minister Grant Mitchell said Gilchrist School was the only school with an acceptable radon level suited for a learning environment. “Deputy Environment Minister Grant Mitchell said Gilchrist School was the only school with an acceptable radon level” (Ref: The Ottawa Journal, March 6, 1976)

Winnipeg Free Press reported Gilchrist School had closed because of the excessive levels of radiation during the springtime of 1976. (Ref: Winnipeg Free Press, RADON FIND CLOSES 3 N. SASK. SCHOOLS REGINA, Page 63, 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.”


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.

1996 was the late year Gilchrist School would operate due to the excessive radiation levels from radon and dwindling enrollment. Gilchrist School was abandoned by the school district in 1997. 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.