A couple of local school projects are getting closer to shovels in the ground.
Alberta’s Minister of Education and Childcare, Demetrios Nicolaides, says a growing population means they have to “double down” on efforts for getting new schools built.
“We have three stages that a school needs to go through, planning design and construction. Many of these are in communities across the province. We need to build schools in our fastest growing cities and communities, but at the same time we also need to replace aging infrastructure and modernize some of our schools that maybe have gone on past their life expectancy.”
In our region, design work has been approved for the modernization of George P. Vanier School in Donnelly, and construction has been approved for the modernization of Ecole Heritage in Falher.
While population increases in the big cities has been a factor behind the increase in school projects, Nicolaides says rural areas won’t get left behind.
“Schools in smaller communities are aging and need some replacement. In this latest round, we are moving ahead with projects in Falher, (sic) Donnelly and other communities as well. Specifically with Donnelly, we’re working with the High Prairie School Division to modernize the George P. Vanier School (sic) which needs some significant updating.”
The province recently announced the fast tracking of 11 projects which Nicolaides says will create more than 8,000 new and updated student spaces.
You can listen to the full interview below.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
