ESTEVAN — Spruce Ridge School in Estevan has been granted permission to extend naming rights to Tundra Oil and Gas to recognize the company's contribution to the construction and opening of the school's outdoor amphitheatre, the only one in the South East Cornerstone Public School Division.
The school reached out to the division with a proposal in June, after Tundra Oil and Gas provided them with a $20,000 donation for the amphitheatre's Phase 2. Spruce Ridge asked to recognize the company's contribution with naming rights.
"We are excited to have the support of many local businesses and individuals in the community, and we feel that it is important to recognize this support," said the school in the proposal.
Phase 1 of the amphitheatre, which was built out of concrete to serve as an outdoor classroom and performance area, was completed in October 2022. The school used the small hill on their property and its elevation as a backing to the amphitheatre.
Since completion, the structure has been used by classes for presentations and performances. It also has been used by the whole school for an assembly. However, problems with erosion and lack of a power source to run a sound system prompted planning for Phase 2 of the project.
It was completed this summer, when the school installed a pole to provide light and power and did landscaping, including brick walls, mulch, pea gravel and grass.
Phase 1 of the project cost was around $63,500, and Phase 2 came to over $18,000. For Phase 1, the school received several donations from local businesses for a total of just over $16,000. The students and families also participated in numerous fundraisers from 2021-23 to raise money for the project. Besides, Spruce Ridge had some school-generated funds in their reserves that they could redirect to this project. With these contributions, they had enough money to cover the costs for Phase 1 of the project.
However, there wasn't enough money to cover Phase 2, so the school decided to seek out corporate donations last spring. The SCC applied for funds from the Richardson Foundation, which is the giving arm of James Richardson & Sons, Limited, and affiliated companies in Canada.
Focused on the visual and performing arts, youth initiatives, education and environmental issues, the foundation provides funding for projects in communities where customers and employees live and work. Tundra Oil and Gas is one of the companies owned by James Richardson & Sons, Limited, with a technical and field office in Estevan.
At the end of June, Craig Lane, vice-president of production operations with Tundra Oil and Gas, came to the school to do a cheque presentation. The money provided was enough to cover Phase 2 of the project and the cost of the recognition sign.
Principal Cheri Haberstock convened an advisory committee, which approved the proposal to name the school's structure the Tundra Oil and Gas Amphitheatre at the end of June.
The SECPSD board also approved the proposal in September, and the school is now waiting for the sign, recognizing the donors, to be made and installed.
