THUNDER BAY — The operators of the independent Northern Lights School in Thunder Bay have relocated to the Tapiola cross-country ski area on Pento Road, off Government Road.
Arlene Thorn and Joe O'Hearn purchased the site when the previous owner, the Finlandia Association of Thunder Bay, was recently forced to dispose of its assets.
The school property covers 13 acres, largely an open field, but the couple has also taken over the lease of the city-owned property which the Finlandia Association has used for years for ski trails.
Thorn says she and O'Hearn intend to keep the trails open this winter.
The Finnish community, she said, is "delighted" the ski area will remain accessible, and members have indicated they are willing to continue maintaining the trails.
Northern Lights is a not-for-profit organization based on the Waldorf school model, which has been described as a philosophy that prioritizes the arts and the imagination.
It began in 2017 with a Kindergarten, and now offers schooling up to Grade 3.
Nine students are currently enrolled.
The school was most recently situated on Dog Lake Road near Dawson Road.
At Tapiola, Northern Lights will operate more of an outdoor program, based out of an existing building that's being renovated.
"A Waldorf-based school is holistic, so a lot of has to do with beginning with nature, then moving into the arts and up into the academic," Thorn said.
In addition to the school program, which runs Monday to Thursday, Northern Lights offers after-school care, a Friday nature program and a once-weekly parent/child program.
Thorn describes the school's early years as remaining "very modest" in terms of size.
"We're still trying to get our feet on the ground, around not only our facilities, but also our teachers. And the teacher training that's needed to actually offer what it is that I want to be able to stand behind. We're going through the very beginnings of developing this education in Thunder Bay."
Thorn said she and her husband mortgaged their house to help cover the $250,000 purchase price of the Tapiola site.
They won the property over eight other bidders.
