At its most recent Board Meeting on January 15, the Peace River School Division (PRSD) Board of Trustees announced they have adjusted its long-term capital planning for Fairview following Northwestern Polytechnic’s announcement that it will close its Fairview Campus effective June 2026.
In October 2025, NWP confirmed plans to shutter the campus, prompting the school division to reassess future investments in the community. As a result, the Board has directed administration to take a strategic pause on Fairview-specific capital projects in the upcoming March 2026 submission of its Three-Year Capital Plan.
Trustees say the decision reflects the significant role the NWP campus played in previous planning efforts for Fairview. With the future of the campus facilities and potential partnerships now uncertain, the Board determined it would be premature to move forward without greater clarity.
As part of this reassessment, the Board has reorganized its capital priorities. A solution for Peace River, specifically T.A. Norris School modernization, will now be listed as the division’s top priority, followed by a modernization project for Worsley Central School. A Fairview school solution, while still included in the plan, has been moved to the third position.
The Board emphasized that Fairview has not been removed from consideration. Instead, trustees describe the shift as an intentional delay aimed at ensuring any future project is well-aligned with the community’s evolving needs and long-term vision.
Administration is currently preparing the 2026–2029 Capital Plan, which will include a detailed explanation of the revised priorities. The updated plan is scheduled to be presented to the Board at its March 26, 2026, meeting.
School officials say they remain committed to working with the Fairview community and will revisit capital options once there is greater certainty surrounding the former NWP campus and opportunities for new partnerships.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
