NDP MLA Melanie Mark says new infrastructure funding a boost for community services

BC NDP MLAs Sheila Malcolmson and Doug Routley say new classrooms are coming to Chase River Elementary

September 18, 2024 at 9:45 am  Politics, Provincial

NANAIMO – BC NDP MLAs Sheila Malcolmson and Doug Routley say that students in Nanaimo will benefit as 125 new student spaces are added to Chase River Elementary as part of the government’s actions to expand schools.

“We’ve been working hard to build education back up locally, getting students out of portables and making classrooms seismically safe,” said Sheila Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo. “Now we’re building more modern prefabricated classrooms at Chase River school to help students as they learn and grow.”

Chase River Elementary will get a 5-classroom prefabricated addition, which will add 125 new seats to the school. The use of prefabricated construction means students will soon be learning in modern classrooms that look just like regular schools. With sustainable and energy-efficient designs, the addition also aligns with the Province’s CleanBC targets and meets B.C.’s enhanced energy requirements. The new classrooms are expected to be ready for students by September 2025.

“When people move to Nanaimo and the surrounding area, they should be able to start and grow their families knowing their kids can get quality education in the community,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “These five new prefabricated classrooms that will come to Chase River Elementary will mean the school can expand and grow with their students.”

Through a $133.5 million investment, the Ministry of Education and Child Care is adding a total of 89 new classrooms, which is the equivalent of 2,185 new seats, to ten school districts. Communities receiving the new additions include West Kelowna, Langley, Surrey, Delta, Richmond, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Fort St. John, Nanaimo, and Terrace.

Since September 2017, the B.C. government has approved more than $5 billion for new and improved schools, and land purchases for schools in the province. This has resulted in more than 40,000 new student spaces and over 38,000 seismically safe seats at B.C. schools.

Learn more:

For information about major public school capital projects underway, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/administration/capital/major-capital-projects

Full list of schools:

  • Burnaby School District
    • Alpha Secondary
    • Nelson Elementary
  • Central Okanagan School District
  • Coast Mountain School District
    • Suwilaawks Community School
  • Delta School District
  • Langley School District
  • Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District
    • Blue Mountain Elementary
    • Golden Ears Elementary
  • Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District
  • Peace River North School District
  • Surrey School District
    • George Greenaway Elementary

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