More Vancouver students learn in seismically safer schools
More elementary students are safer at school with the completion of the seismic replacement of Bayview Community Elementary.
“As a parent, I know there’s nothing more important than knowing that your children are safe at school,” said Premier David Eby. “That’s why we’re earthquake-proofing schools throughout British Columbia, including Bayview Community Elementary. Families can take comfort in knowing that if there is an earthquake, their children are in the safest environment possible.”
The new, safer Bayview Community Elementary includes a neighbourhood learning centre that provides before-and-after-school care to families in the area. The school was built to the latest seismic standards and includes innovative, low-carbon mass timber as a main building material.
“Students in B.C. deserve safe, supportive classrooms where they can thrive,” said Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care. “As we continue making record investments in seismic upgrades and capital projects across the province, we are ensuring all students can reach their full potential in modern, engaging learning environments.”
The seismic replacement of Bayview Community Elementary is a result of $24.5 million in provincial funding. The school, which has capacity for 365 students, is complete and families in the community are seeing the benefits with students attending the new school.
“As a school board, our top priority is the safety of our students and staff,” said Victoria Jung, board chair, Vancouver School Board. “With the construction of this new school, we have not only achieved seismic safety, but also made a commitment to sustainable practices. By utilizing innovative technology, we are paving the way for a brighter, greener future for our students and the community.”
The project is part of the Province’s work to provide Vancouver students with seismically safer learning environments. Since September 2017, the Government of B.C. has invested more than $300 million to seismically upgrade or replace 12 schools in Vancouver.
“We want to thank all the Bayview families’ and previous parent advisory council’s efforts over the past many years, leading up to the completion of the new Bayview,” said Brie Lunn, chair, Bayview parent advisory council. “We are very grateful to be in a beautiful, seismically safe new school and back in our neighbourhood where we can reconnect with the whole Bayview community.”
Since September 2017, the Government of B.C. has announced $3.2 billion for new and improved schools and land purchases for future schools throughout the province. This includes adding approximately 20,000 new student spaces and 33,000 seismically safer seats in B.C. schools.
To support this momentum, Budget 2023 includes $3.4 billion for school capital investments to provide a better place for students to learn.
Learn More:
Vancouver School District: https://www.vsb.bc.ca/Pages/default.aspx
The Ministry of Education and Child Care’s Seismic Mitigation Program: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/administration/capital/seismic-mitigation
A backgrounder follows.