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MORSON, ONT. — The Pegamigaabo School in Morson, Ont. will receive over $2.9 million from the Government of Canada to expand, upgrade and help meet the cultural and educational needs of Big Grassy River First Nation.

The funding will be used to retrofit the school with solar panels, high-efficiency windows and power-assisted doors.

Installing a 135-kilovolt rooftop solar system on the school will lower its operating costs and allow it to continue operations during a grid disruption, indicates a release, adding the improvements will reduce the facility’s energy consumption by an estimated 59.9 per cent and greenhouse gas emissions by 18.4 tonnes annually.

The First Nation will also be expanding the school with an extra 200 square metres of space that will include a new pre-kindergarten classroom and an Ojibway language classroom.

The investment will help the community to realize significant cost savings that can be reapplied towards other improvements at the school and to expand the programs it offers, states the release.

“Investing in green upgrades to public infrastructure makes sense for our environment, our communities, and our economy,” said Marcus Powlowski, MP for Thunder Bay-Rainy River, in a statement. “The upgrades and expansion to the Pegamigaabo School will reduce operational costs and GHG emissions while also increasing space and resources available for youth programs and Ojibway language instruction.”