Sage Creek school plans unveiled in southeast Winnipeg

The Manitoba government revealed its latest plans today to build schools in Sage Creek and Waverley West, two growing suburbs in southeast Winnipeg.

Crews will break ground on construction of a school in the Sage Creek neighbourhood next year, Premier Greg Selinger announced on Wednesday.

"We know it will make a gigantic difference out here," Selinger said at the 2.6-hectare site where the school will be built, on Sage Creek Boulevard and Edward Turner Drive.

Originally announced in 2011, the Sage Creek school is scheduled to open in 2016 and offer classes from the early-learning stages to Grade 8.

The school, which will be part of the Louis Riel School Division, will have between 450 and 600 students, according to the province.

Selinger also hinted at plans to build a school in Waverley West, another growing residential area.

"Stay tuned — further announcements are coming," he told reporters.

Sage Creek resident Marcie Wilson says she's excited that her young children, Olivia and Colton, will have a school to go to in a few years.

"The fact my kids are going to be able to walk to school is so exciting," she told CBC News.

Wilson said her neighbours currently bus their children to school in Windsor Park, and residents in other new residential developments are currently facing similar situations.

Wilson said she knows of at least one family that left other suburbs, like Island Lakes, because it took too long for a school to be built there.

Wednesday's announcement was the latest Selinger has made since the provincial budget was tabled last week.

But Progressive Conservative education critic Kelvin Goertzen accused the province of trying to distract people amid controversy about a proposed increase to the PST.