A celebration featuring student performance and Stól:lo and Cheam First Nations drummers and dancers marked the official opening of the $31.6-million Rosedale Traditional Community school.

The new school can accommodate up to 570 students from kindergarten to Grade 9 and includes a Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC) to serve as a hub for community programs. The NLC offers day-care, youth and Aboriginal services to families and residents can take various courses after school hours including music, family fitness, arts and computer skills.

The NLC also has a multi-purpose space that can be used for community meetings and support groups. The City of Chilliwack is contributing $12,000 annually for three years to the NLC, which is managed by the volunteer-based Rosedale Traditional Community School Society.

The school also meets B.C.'s Wood First Initiative by incorporating wood as much as possible and follows LEED Gold or equivalent environmental standards.

Our government contributed $31.4 million to the capital project, while the City of Chilliwack provided $200,000 to create extra community space at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre. The new school replaces Rosedale Elementary and Rosedale Traditional Middle, which are both slated for demolition.

Quotes:

George Abbott, Minister of Education -

"The Chilliwack school district is one of the few districts in the Province where student enrolment continues to grow each year. The new Rosedale Traditional Community school will provide more student spaces and serve the whole community through a wide range of programs in the new Neighbourhood Learning Centre."

"Rosedale Traditional Community school is a great example of collaboration between many groups and levels of government. Students, teachers and Rosedale residents have made this school their own by providing their suggestions, time and energy to run the programs."

John Les, MLA for

"The City of Chilliwack is increasingly diverse as more families choose to work and live here. The new Rosedale Traditional Community school is more than a place where students learn, it is also bustling with programs and services for our residents. As a long-time resident of Chilliwack, I am excited to see that this school has drawn our community together."

Louise Piper, chair, Chilliwack board of education -

"The new Rosedale Traditional Community school is an excellent example of design and vision working together to create a supportive and collaborative learning environment for both students and community members. The Chilliwack school district is thrilled to have this beautiful, spacious, and modern educational facility to share with students, staff and local families."

"Thank you to our partners at the City of Chilliwack, the provincial government, and the federal government. You have provided the support to make this project a reality. We look forward to the programs and partnerships that will provide our students and our community with many exciting learning opportunities."

Quick Facts:

• Rosedale Elementary was built in 1955 and the Rosedale Traditional Middle was built in 1961.
• The new Rosedale Traditional Community School can accommodate more students than the former elementary and middle schools. It has a capacity of 120 kindergarten, 150 elementary and 300 middle school students.
• The Chilliwack school district is one of the few districts in the Province where student enrolment continues to grow every year. For 2011-12 school year, 12,442 students are enrolled in the district.
• Since 2001, our government has invested more than $46 million in the Chilliwack school district (SD 33) to complete seven capital projects, including the replacement of Greendale Elementary and the new G.W. Graham Middle-Secondary school, as well as more than $1.2 million for additional space for full-day kindergarten in SD 33.
• Since 2001, our government has spent more than $2.1 billion to complete 93 new and replacement schools, 150 additions, 27 renovations and 22 site acquisitions in B.C.
• Our government is currently working to upgrade, replace and build a total of 60 schools throughout B.C. over the next four years. The total cost of these projects is approximately $1.5 billion.

Learn More:

Chilliwack school district: http://www.sd33.bc.ca/

Recreational infrastructure Canada Program: http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/11264.asp

Ministry of Education: http://www.gov.bc.ca/bced/

BC's Education Plan: http://www.bcedplan.ca/

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963