A 32-lot subdivision is currently under construction in Kinkora, bringing new families into the community.
“Our community is probably as strong as it has been in the last 20 years as far as businesses,” said Duffy, a Kinkora business owner who also sits on council. “Our volunteer fire department is sitting at 32 and it used to be tough to get 22.”
At a public information session in early October at Kinkora Regional High, Bob Andrews, who is conducting the review six families of schools on P.E.I., indicated population and enrollment in the Kinkora catchment areas is projected to decrease, and, when it came to future development in the area, there was “none to report."
TAKES ISSUE WITH THE INFORMATION
Duffy takes issue with that information, adding there was little consultation with council in preparing those projections.
Cilck here to read related stories, including community reaction to the review of its schools.
“How much time would it take to figure out what the development numbers have been in Kinkora over the last five years? Would it be a five-minute phone call to community council?” he questioned.
“To stand up in front of a room full of people and tell them that development is stagnant, and to tell a community that your numbers are going to decline by 45 per cent in the next six to seven years is wrong.”
INFORMATION WAS FROM PRINCIPALS, SAYS ANDREWS
Andrews, on Monday, said his development projects were based on conversations with principals, information, he added, that wasn’t used in his decision on what schools would be reviewed.
He admitted not every principal, since some don’t live where a school is situated, would know of current and future development plans for that area.
Since initial public sessions, Andrews has met with “numerous” municipal councils that have confirmed or corrected information that he initially presented.
“My job, in this next step, is to get local knowledge, meet with municipal authorities and say we have a history of how things are going for the past five years in your community, we’ve made assumptions that is going to continue, you tell me what I need to know.”
DEVELOPMENT ON THE UPSWING
Duffy said Kinkora's council has “a very vigorous development plan, including the new 32 multi-unit and single-family lot subdivision.
“The first 10-unti subdivision sold out in months. We have six of the 22 lots sold in the new subdivision,” he added. “As a community, we are driven on bringing young families in and keeping the schools filled.”
SCHOOLS IMPORTANT TO GROWTH
Schools top the list of amenities wanted by families moving to the area, he added.
“My wife, Karen, has talked to a few young parents in the last three months that moved into Kinkora and said what would it mean if the elementary or the high school closed. They said more or less it would be detrimental,” said Duffy.
“A couple moved from Summerside… another moved from Kensington because of the school system, because of the elementary and high schools.”
ENROLLMENT GROWING, SAYS DUFFY
And, he added, if this year’s kindergarten numbers are any indication, enrollment at Somerset elementary is increasing, not declining as Andrews’ numbers indicate.
That class is at 20, prompting its teacher to have additional help one day a week.
Ramona Roberts has operated a business in Kinkora for a quarter century.
In recent years, she and her husband have developed rental units and expanded their convenience store to include a liquor outlet.
“We have a very aggressive and forward-thinking council that has planned for expansion and growth. We have two new subdivisions. There are housing starts here every year. There have been rental units added exponentially in the last number of years,” said Roberts.
“This town is absolutely growing and is on the upswing.”
And, from a business perspective, keeping every student in Kinkora is key to that continued growth.
“It’s about activities that take place in the school after hours… about parent-teacher days… prom and fundraising events and school athletics. All of those things are drivers towards our community,” added Roberts.
“And those rental units and housing starts? Very often those are filled with people who work, one in Charlottetown and one in Summerside or in Kensington.”
Closing one of its schools would be detrimental to Kinkora’s future, concluded Duffy.
“It would be tough to keep growing our community, very tough.”
About Kinkora
(Courtesy Province of P.E.I.’s website)
— Located in Prince County northeast of Borden
— Incorporated in 1955
— Population of 339
— Council meets third Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
The numbers
These are the numbers that were prepared and presented by Bob Andrews, director’s delegate, Public Schools Branch
Enrollment trends (To 2022)
— Amherst Cove — Decreasing 137 to 104
— Kinkora Regional High — Decreasing 123 to 121
— Somerset Elementary — Decreasing 160 to 115 [email protected]
