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PORT CLEMENTS – The Province, in partnership with the Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte school board and the Village of Port Clements, is investing $900,000 to replace Port Clements elementary school as part of a multi-purpose community centre, Education Minister Shirley Bond announced today.
“This project is a leading example of what can happen when a community comes together,” said Bond. “I have spoken with the mayor about the uniqueness of this project. The new multi-purpose complex will strengthen ties between the community and the school board, create more shared community space, and provide modernized facilities to benefit students and the entire Village of Port Clements.”
The community centre will include instructional and support space for 50 elementary school students, a multi-purpose room, a community kitchen, a seniors’ meeting room, an exercise room, a teen room, a daycare, a community library and village administration offices. In addition, the existing Port Clements elementary school gymnasium will be renovated by the school district to serve the new centre.
Built in 1954, the existing Port Clements elementary school is also a priority for seismic upgrades. The replacement centre will be built to meet current seismic standards to ensure students, parents, teachers and community members are safe in the event of an earthquake.
“This is great news for the entire community,” said Port Clements Mayor Cory Delves. “The multi-purpose building committee and our local school board have worked hard to make the joint project a reality. The new school, library and community centre will be utilized by the whole community. On behalf of the community, I thank the Province for its support of the new school.”
The school and multi-purpose community centre will also receive $200,000 in local funds from the Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte school board and $1.67 million in Canada-BC Infrastructure program funds provided to the Village of Port Clements. In addition, the joint project is eligible for up to $165,000 from the School Community Connections program.
“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to work so productively with the Province to make the new school a reality,” said school board chair Wayne Wilson. “Port Clements elementary is a significant part of our community, and so we’re looking forward to having this wonderful new complex.”
Construction on the new multi purpose complex is slated to start in April and it is hoped the complex will be ready for use in the spring of 2008. The Province has invested $11.8 million in school capital projects in the Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte school district since 2001, including the replacement of Queen Charlotte Secondary.
Since 2001, the Province spent over
$1 billion to complete 26 new schools, 32 replacements, 140 additions and 22
renovation projects across British Columbia. By the end of 2008-09, the
Province will have invested more than $2.8 billion in school capital and
maintenance projects across British Columbia.
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Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 356-5963 250 920-9040 (cell) |
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