In 2006 the Horizon School Division was formed through a province wide amalgamation process that transformed from 71 school divisions down to the 14 we know today.

On Wednesday at the HSD administration building in Humboldt representatives from the Ministry of Education as well as the division and the grades 1-4 classes at Watson School joined the festivities.

Education minister Don Morgan was unable to attend but Deputy Minister Julie MacRae was on hand to share some words.

"I thinks it's a very special day for everyone concerned," she stated. "It's a milestone in the journey of post-amalgamation for the school division. It's important for us to to mark the improvements that have come about as a result of those amalgamations 10 years ago."

MacRae mentioned a number of improvements that have been made including the cost savings on administration with the less divisions, purchasing power is much greater now plus perhaps the most glaring difference, the ability to retain and recruit qualified staff to work within the HSD and other divisions across Saskatchewan.

HSD Board Chair Jim Hack was a key contributor ten years ago as the HSD came about from the Humboldt School Division, Humboldt Rural School Division, Lakeview School Division, Lanigan School Division, Sask Central School Division and the Wakaw School Division.

"There was legacy boards, I think there was seven of them," Hack explained. "We joined together to become HSD and we've grown ever since. We've made great strides, the board and all of the staff have done great, great work and we're where we are today because of those folks."

The realignment of the divisions all started in 2004 after a report led by the Commission on Financing education called for the changes to restore fairness and equity in the education system.

"There was lots of hurdles because of course each of those legacy school divisions had their own link agreements, their own CUPE agreements, had their own policies so those all had to be worked through to get one that was going to work for everyone," Hack continued.

"It was a lot of work but it's paid off." he concluded.

HSD Director of Education Kevin Garinger(left), cuts the cake along with Julie MacRae and Jim Hack on Wednesday.

You can hear more from Hack and MacRae below in their interviews with Bolt FM's Clark Stork.