Education Minister Peter Fassbender made his fourth stop on the K-12 Innovation Tour today where he engaged local leaders from inside and outside the education sector on how they can support innovative learning opportunities for students in northern B.C.

Hosted by the Peace River North school district (SD 60), the event continued the conversation from January’s inaugural forum at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue in Vancouver and similar regional stops in Comox, Kelowna and Langley.

Fassbender also used the opportunity to announce a $7 million investment for three potential new school sites in the district. With increasing economic activity in the area and a growing student population, the sites are the first step in meeting the need for student space in the region.

Prior to the start of the forum, Fassbender also joined students at North Peace Secondary for a student-led panel on a variety of topics including skills and career training, connecting students with local industries and further developing positive relationships with Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek.

Quotes:

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Education -

“This fourth stop on the Innovation Tour is important because Fort St. John and the Peace River Region offer some great examples of the need for more advanced skilled trades workers to support the thriving industries in the area. And, as more families move here for jobs, we are seeing a demand for new K-12 student space. The site acquisitions announced today are demonstrations of the commitments we are making to this growing region.”

Pat Pimm, MLA, Peace River North -

“It is great to see the Ministry of Education recognizing the growing number of students attending SD 60 schools and the need to supply future infrastructure. By actual numbers Fort St. John is the fastest growing school district in the province and will need more schools in the future.”

Jaret Thompson, chair, Peace River North school district -

“As the region flourishes, the student population in the Fort St. John area will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. We are pleased the Ministry of Education has approved funding for the site acquisitions, as this is an important step in the process that could soon lead to three new schools in Peace River North school district.”

Quick Facts:

• BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint is re-engineering the province’s education and training systems - from kindergarten through to post-secondary training and beyond - to ensure students have a full range of training options.
• The Fort St. John area continues to experience economic and population growth related to the oil and gas industry, and anticipates additional growth resulting from the proposed Site C dam. SD 60 projects an enrolment increase of approximately 650 students (12%) over the next five years.
• Of the $7 million invested by government for new school sites in SD 60:
  • $2.2 million is for the northeast Fort St. John school site acquisition project (a proposed elementary school); and
  • $4.8 million is for the northwest Fort St. John school sites acquisitions project (a proposed elementary school and a proposed middle school).

Learn More:

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

BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: https://www.workbc.ca/skills

BC Jobs Plan: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/

Media Contacts:

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