Vancouver receives funding for seven school projects
Schools & Students
Vancouver, B.C. – (March 27, 2009) – Vancouver Board of Education trustees are pleased the provincial government is investing more than $167 million towards ensuring Vancouver schools are seismically safe while also targeting funds for much needed new schools in the University of British Columbia area.
The province announced seismic upgrades to five elementary schools and the development of new secondary and elementary school facilities within the University Hill secondary catchment area.
“I think it’s a tremendous step forward for the safety of Vancouver students for generations to come. This is an unprecedented investment in student safety and progressive, engaging educational facilities” said Patti Bacchus, chairperson of the Vancouver Board of Education.
“This is the culmination of advocacy work that really started with Vancouver students and was carried on by parents, previous boards and community members, including Families for School Seismic Safety.”
The funding allows the school district to upgrade Laura Secord Elementary School, replace/upgrade Lord Kitchener Elementary School, upgrade/partially replace Jules Quesnel Elementary School, and fully replace J.W. Sexsmith and Sir James Douglas elementary schools. Each project includes additional space for potential early learning and childcare initiatives.
Construction of new educational facilities in the UBC area include the conversion and expansion of the existing National Research Council (NRC) building into a secondary school, and the construction of a new elementary school on the current site of University Hill Secondary School. These new facilities will serve an in-catchment student population that is double the current number of spaces available.
Today’s funding announcement allows the school district to proceed to the design development phase for the seven capital projects approved by the Ministry of Education. Renovation of the NRC building is expected to begin in Fall 2009, while seismic upgrades are expected to commence within the 2009/10 school year.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Patti Bacchus, board chairperson 604-250-1130
David Weir, VSB communications manager 604-713-5074
