​Building more than a school: Why BUILDKD-plus matters for Kincardine

The BUILDKD-plus Campaign has had a phenomenal start.

Through our 1,000 Strong: A March to a Million direct fund-raising campaign, more than $125,000 has already been donated toward enhancements for the future Kincardine District Senior School (KDSS).

That total represents far more than dollars raised. It represents a clear voice from our community, saying that the next KDSS should be more than a new building. It should be a school and community hub worthy of the students, families, and future it will serve.

KDSS has been a welcome centre for new Kincardine families, fostering life-long friendships, a training ground for careers, and an after-hours home for clubs, sports, arts, and community groups. Now, after nearly 25 years of community advocacy for a replacement school, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape what comes next.

As we work toward our overall fund-raising goal of $4.5-million, we are also seeing that energy grow beyond direct donations. Community events, such as the KDSS Music Night, Thursday, May 14, and the Kincardine Legion Trivia Night in support of BUILDKD-plus, May 22, are powerful examples of people working together around a shared vision.

When service clubs, families, alumni, businesses, and community groups step forward, they remind us that KDSS has never belonged only to the students and staff who walk its halls each day. It belongs to the broader Kincardine community.

A goal of $4.5-million is a large ask. We know that, and we appreciate that we have a long way to go. But for close to 25 years, this community has advocated for a replacement build for KDSS. From accommodation reviews and grade realignments to plans imagined by community members for what a school should look like, this project has been part of our collective thoughts for a long time.

The provincially-funded replacement build for KDSS will provide a core school for students to learn within, but there are important spaces and opportunities that require community support if we want them to truly reflect the hopes, dreams, talents, and aspirations of our community.

The enhancement areas we are fund-raising for, include arts and performance spaces, technology and skilled trades learning spaces, physical education and athletic facilities, and student collaboration and wellness spaces. These are not extras in the lives of students; they are the places where young people discover confidence, creativity, discipline, teamwork, leadership, belonging, and purpose.

Imagine an early April day when the snow has finally melted from farmers’ fields, but community fields remain too wet for soccer, baseball, rugby, or flag football. At a future KDSS, an artificial turf field and full track facility could allow school teams, community groups, and local leagues to begin their seasons earlier and make greater use of a high-quality, shared community space. That is the kind of opportunity BUILDKD-plus is working to make possible.

Strong arts spaces, that can host music, drama, visual arts, and performance opportunities, help students find their voice, build confidence, and create moments that bring people together. Enhanced sound paneling, public address equipment, seating, and fully-outfitted music and arts classrooms, would allow students who find their home in these spaces, to thrive. They would also provide our community with a performance venue that allows more of Kincardine to shine.

Technology and skilled trades spaces are another critical part of this vision. The new KDSS will be built with strong learning spaces, but BUILDKD-plus can help transform them into a true magnet for technology and trades training. Our students will gain valuable skills during the school day, while the broader community could benefit from these spaces in the evening. With the right enhancements, students may no longer need to travel to Saugeen Shores or Owen Sound for specialized opportunities and certifications. Instead, we would partner with colleges, industry, and community groups to offer more of these programs right here in Kincardine.

As chairman of the BUILDKD-plus Campaign, I am excited for what the future brings for our broader Kincardine community. As principal of KDSS, I have the privilege of seeing every day how deeply this school shapes the lives of our students and connects our community. In 2019, I moved back to the area to become vice-principal at KDSS. What I did not know at the time was that I would end up calling this town home. I can proudly say there is no community like this community.

For me, this project is connected both to my role and to my own life experience. As a former member of the Saugeen Track and Field Club, I know how much high-quality athletic spaces matter. As a former music teacher and conductor of the Port Elgin Community Band, I know the power of wonderful arts spaces. In my daily work, I also see the difference enhanced technology and skilled trades spaces would make for our students, and for our community partners, the future employers of these students.

I want to encourage others to consider giving in a way that is meaningful and manageable for them. A gift does not have to happen all at once. Contributions made over months or years can still have a lasting impact. A pledge over time can help move this vision forward while allowing families, individuals, alumni, businesses, service clubs, and community partners to participate at a level that works for them.

If you are not able to give financially, there are still meaningful ways to help. Attend a community event. Share the campaign. Volunteer your time. Every act of support helps build momentum.

For more information on the physical build, its approval and timelines, visit: Bluewater District School Board New Build-KDSS.

To donate, connect with the school or go to our March to a Million link at: DONATE HERE.

Let’s build the future of our home together.

Once a Knight, always a Knight.

Don Burns,
Principal, KDSS
Chairman BUILDKD-plus Campaign