School board's $611K in fences set to keep Chippewa secure

Fencing contractors have been in high demand on Chippewa Street West over the past few years. At Chippewa Intermediate and Secondary School, its new fences are in place and ready to protect students, staff, and visitors (see photo gallery above).

See related: On guard: School board green lights Chippewa fencing

The new fence project is wrapping up and, at a cost of $611,000, is intended to increase student safety and reduce trespassing on school grounds, according to the Near North District School Board. 

See also: School board fencing Chippewa in to keep intruders out? 

In November 2023, when the fence project was announced, NNDSB confirmed clients of the low-barrier shelter located across Chippewa Street West at Northern Pines — and others —  had caused incidents on the Chippewa school grounds. The clients have been prone to wandering onto the Chippewa Secondary School property. There have been instances of people keeping out of the weather in the school’s entrances while waiting for the shelter to open and drug paraphernalia found on school grounds.

See also: King 'surprised' by Chippewa fence project

The District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board recently announced a temporary cold weather program will be located at the Northern Pines facility this winter across the street for the upcoming winter season, which is likely to increase foot traffic in the Chippewa and High Street corridor which contains several schools, retirement communities, parks and homes.

The Chippewa fence project began early this year. The bus loop and parking lots are not enclosed by fencing and public pathways are not obstructed. One gate has been added to access the rear tech shop doors, and all pathways have gates, with double-wide gates in specific locations to allow access for EMS and maintenance vehicles as required, according to NNDSB.

The fencing is a combination of ornamental steel and chain link. The ornamental steel fence is along the southeast corner adjacent to High Street and Chippewa Street West. This fence will be eight feet high. The ornamental section is designed to deter climbers.

The chain link sections are galvanized, eight feet high, with one-inch hexes, making it difficult to climb as there is little room for a toe hold. This fence runs around the remainder of the school. Along the wooded areas, the fence is six feet high.

— With files from David Briggs and Chris Dawson