Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal joined Education Minister Peter Fassbender, school district officials and community members today to break ground on the new $40.8-million Royal Bay Secondary school and to name a new road after Hesjedal - Ryder Hesjedal Way.

Royal Bay Secondary will accommodate up to 800 students from grades 9 to 12. It will feature a rooftop basketball court, an asphalt rubber running track, a teaching kitchen and a 350-seat theatre. It will be a high-tech learning centre with enhanced project spaces.

To meet growing student enrolment in the school district, construction has also begun on the new Belmont Secondary in Langford. The $53.9-million facility will accommodate up to 1,200 students from grades 9 to 12.

The Sooke school district is considering skills and trades training programs, such as culinary arts and automotive technician, for both Royal Bay and Belmont Secondary schools. The district is also exploring links to the ship building industry with possible metal fabrication and marine trades training programs.

Belmont will feature a gymnasium with seating for 1,000 people, which will allow the school to host island and provincial athletic championships. Belmont's successful cosmetology program will continue at the new school, and the facility will have three additional skills and trades shops to support a variety of programs.

Both Belmont and Royal Bay will have Neighbourhood Learning Centres to provide various services to communities, such as a family support centre, health and wellness screening office, a child-care facility and a multi-purpose room equipped with a community kitchen.

Quotes:

Minister of Education Peter Fassbender -

"It's great to be in Colwood, to meet the community and help them celebrate the groundbreaking of Royal Bay Secondary. This will be a modern, bright school with programs and facilities to give students the experience and skills they need for B.C.'s job market."

Wendy Hobbs, chair, Sooke board of education -

"This is a monumental day for the Sooke school district, community and province. The board of education and everyone in the West Shore have worked so hard to see this happen. It's because of this effort that the Sooke school district is able to contribute one of the largest investments by any school district in B.C. to the project. This will help to make the construction of Royal Bay and Belmont Secondary schools a reality."

Quick Facts:

• The Sooke school district (SD 62) currently has three school-based Accelerated Credit Enrolment in Industry Training (ACE-IT) programs: cabinet-making and cosmetology programs at Belmont Secondary and the professional cook program at Edward Milne Secondary.
• SD 62 is part of the South Island Partnership with Camosun College, which offers a wide range of post-secondary trades training opportunities to grades 11 and 12 students. Youth enrolled in these programs can receive credit toward their first year of college and certification while they complete their high school education.
• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested more than $52 million in the Sooke school district to complete six capital projects and committed more than $94 million for Belmont and Royal Bay secondary schools.
• The government has also provided more than $12.6 million for additional space for full-day kindergarten. 
• Since 2001, government has spent more than $2.5 billion to complete capital projects including 99 new and replacement schools, 151 additions, 27 renovations and 26 site acquisitions throughout B.C.
• Since 2001, government has committed more than $4.1 billion on school capital and maintenance projects throughout the province.

Learn More:

Information on the new Royal Bay Secondary and Belmont Secondary: http://newschools.sd62.bc.ca/

B.C.'s Skills and Training Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/skills-and-training-plan/

Accelerated Credit Enrolment in Industry Training (ACE-IT) programs: http://www.itabc.ca/youth-educators/ace-it-program

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

(flickr.com)

Media Contact:

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