Rachna Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives, and Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education, have released the following statement to mark Black Shirt Day on Jan. 15, 2021:

The wait is over for students in New Westminster who have begun the New Year in a new, modern, engaging and inspiring secondary school that will benefit the community now and in the future.

Students and staff in North Vancouver have more than just a new year to celebrate as they return to school this week.

Students and staff at Shortreed Community Elementary school in Aldergrove will be better protected in the event of an earthquake, thanks to planned seismic upgrades.

Students in Masset will soon have a safer, unified school that will include Canada’s first-ever tsunami evacuation tower to better protect the community in an earthquake. 

Students in Fernie can look forward to better learning environments with an expanded Isabella Dicken Elementary school, and students and families for generations to come will benefit from the purchase of land to build a school in the future.

Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education, has appointed Lynn Smith, QC, and former Surrey school superintendent Mike McKay as special advisors to evaluate the Chilliwack Board of Education’s commitment to a school system that is safe, inclusive and welcoming to all students and staff.

Budget 2020 ensures B.C.’s education system will have the highest school district operating and capital funding ever to support students.

School districts are investing in additional staff time and cleaning to keep schools safe and support student learning with the first instalment of federal funding for B.C.’s K-12 COVID-19 response.