An additional $3.3 million is being provided for 80 schools across all 60 school districts for the repair, improvement and replacement of playgrounds, Education Minister George Abbott announced.

This is the final phase of an $8-million playground funding commitment made by Premier Christy Clark and Abbott last September, bringing the total number of schools benefiting from the two-year program to 227 provincewide.

For the first phase of the program, the B.C. government provided more than $2 million to 23 school districts for new playground equipment at 41 schools without playgrounds. Under the second phase, 106 parent advisory councils in 34 school districts were reimbursed over $2.4 million for the purchase of new playground equipment.

The addition and renewal of playground equipment at schools throughout B.C. will promote active and healthy lifestyles by ensuring students and communities have access to safe and modern playground facilities.

With students, parents and school district officials in attendance, Abbott made today's playground funding announcement at F.W. Howay Elementary school in New Westminster.

Quotes:

George Abbott, Minister of Education -

"Our government is committed to providing students and communities with safe and modern playground facilities to promote play-based learning, physical activity and healthy lifestyles."

"With the final phase of this $8 million investment, our playground funding program has supported new and improved playgrounds at 227 schools across the province."

Kathy Cassels, executive director of DASH BC (The Directorate of Agencies for School Health) -

"Playground activity improves the health and learning capacity of young students in B.C.

By repairing, improving, and, where necessary replacing playgrounds, the B.C. government is promoting, supporting and facilitating a healthy schools approach for young learners."

Learn More:

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

DASH BC: http://www.dashbc.ca/

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

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

BACKGROUNDER

June 21, 2012 Ministry of Education

$3.3 million for middle and elementary school playgrounds

The following is a list of the schools that will benefit in this round of provincial funding of $25,000 for repairs to existing playgrounds; $50,000 for enhancing minimal equipment; and $50,000 for replacement of existing equipment.

School District 5 (Southeast Kootenay)

• Pinewood Elementary - $ 50,000
• T M Roberts Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 6 (Rocky Mountain)

• Lindsay Park Elementary - $ 50,000
• Eileen Madison Primary School - $ 25,000

School District 8 (Kootenay Lake)

• Central Education Centre - $ 50,000

School District 10 (Arrow Lakes)

• Lucerne Elementary-Secondary - $ 50,000
• Edgewood Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 19 (Revelstoke)

• Columbia Park Elementary - $ 25,000
• Mount Begbie Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 20 (Kootenay-Columbia)

• Twin Rivers Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 22 (Vernon)

• Alexis Park Elementary - $ 50,000
• Harwood Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 23 (Central Okanagan)

• Ellison Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin)

• Naghtaneqed Elem -Jr. Secondary - $ 50,000

School District 28 (Quesnel)

• Quesnel Junior - $ 50,000

School District 33 (Chilliwack)

• Bernard Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 34 (Abbotsford)

• Blue Jay Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 35 (Langley)

• Simonds Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 36 (Surrey)

• Chantrell Creek Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 37 (Delta)

• Hawthorne Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 38 (Richmond)

• Kathleen McNeely Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 39 (Vancouver)

• Sir Guy Carleton Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 40 (New Westminster)

• F.W. Howay Elementary - $ 50,000
• Queen Elizabeth Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 41 (Burnaby)

• Rosser Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 42 (Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows)

• Alexander Robinson Elementary - $ 25,000
• Eric Langton Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 43 (Coquitlam)

• Meadowbrook Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 44 (North Vancouver)

• Queensbury Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 45 (West Vancouver)

• Hollyburn Elementary - $ 50,000
• Westcot Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 46 (Sunshine Coast)

• Langdale Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 47 (Powell River)

• James Thomson Elementary - $ 25,000
• Edgehill Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 48 (Sea to Sky)

• Squamish Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 49 (Central Coast)

• Bella Coola Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 50 (Haida Gwaii)

• Sk'aadgaa Naay Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 51 (Boundary)

• Greenwood Elementary - $ 50,000
• West Boundary Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 52 (Prince Rupert)

• Port Edward Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 53 (Okanagan Similkameen)

• Similkameen Elementary Secondary - $ 50,000

School District 54 (Bulkley Valley)

• Twain Sullivan Elementary - $ 25,000
• Telkwa Elementary School - $ 25,000

School District 57 (Prince George)

• Aboriginal Choice School - $ 50,000

School District 58 (Nicola-Similkameen)

• Merritt Central Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 59 (Peace River South)

• Crescent Park Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 60 (Peace River North)

• Buick Creek Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 61 Greater Victoria

• George Jay Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 62 (Sooke)

• Millstream Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 63 (Saanich)

• Bayside Middle School - $ 50,000

School District 64 (Gulf Islands)

• Mayne Island Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 67 (Okanagan Skaha)

• Trout Creek Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith)

• Chase River Elementary - $ 50,000
• Georgia Avenue Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 69 (Qualicum)

• Winchelsea Elementary - $ 50,000
• Parksville Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 70 (Alberni)

• Wickaninnish Community School - $ 50,000

School District 71 (Comox Valley)

• Hornby Island Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 72 (Campbell River)

• Discovery Passage Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 73 (Kamloops/Thompson)

• Barriere Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 74 (Gold Trail)

• Cayoosh Elementary - $ 50,000
• Ashcroft Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 75 (Mission)

• Edwin S Richards Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 78 (Fraser-Cascade)

• C E Barry Intermediate School - $ 25,000
• Coquihalla Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 79 (Cowichan Valley)

• Thetis Island Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 81 (Fort Nelson)

• R L Angus Elementary - $ 50,000
• Toad River Elem-Secondary - $ 50,000

School District 82 (Coast Mountains)

• Kitwanga Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap)

• Ranchero Elementary School - $ 50,000

School District 84(Vancouver Island West)

• Captain Meares Elem-Secondary - $ 50,000
• Ray Watkins Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 85 (Vancouver Island North)

• Eagle View Elementary - $ 50,000
• Sunset Elementary - $ 25,000

School District 87 (Stikine)

• Denetia Elementary School - $ 50,000
• Tahltan School - $ 25,000

School District 91 (Nechako Lakes)

• W L Mcleod Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 92 (Nisga'a)

• Alvin A McKay Elementary - $ 50,000
• Nathan Barton Elementary - $ 50,000

School District 93 (Conseil Scolaire Francophone)

• École Cote de Soleil (Powell River) - $ 50,000

Contact:

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