Students at Dr. Annie B. Jamieson Elementary will start heading to classes in a safer seismically upgraded school in 2019 thanks to a $13.1 million investment by the provincial government.

Minister of Education Mike Bernier made the announcement today alongside Vancouver School Board chair Mike Lombardi in the school library.

With the Jamieson Elementary project, there are currently nine seismic projects under way in the Vancouver school district with a total price tag of just over $200 million. 

The school was built in four blocks. The three blocks built in 1957 will be upgraded. The fourth school block was built in 2001 and is considered a low seismic risk. The project also includes accessibility improvements and new storm and water lines.

(flickr.com)

Work is expected to start in winter 2017-18 and finish in fall 2019. The Vancouver school district has started design plans for the upgrades.

The Vancouver Project Office (VPO) helped push the project forward. The VPO is a partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Vancouver Board of Education created in 2014 to complete Vancouver seismic projects as efficiently and economically as possible. 

Government is able to make investments such as the Dr. Annie B. Jamieson seismic mitigation school project thanks to the Province’s fiscal discipline and strong economy.

Quotes:

Mike Bernier, Minister of Education –

“Our goal is to seismically upgrade all B.C. high-risk schools as quickly as possible. We are building on our record of seismic investments in Vancouver – more than $200 million worth under way today. We created the seismic program back in 2004 and we’re going to continue pushing forward.”

Mike Lombardi, chair, Vancouver Board of Education –

“The Vancouver school board is pleased to see the provincial government commit funding for the seismic upgrading of Jamieson Elementary. Our goal is to get students and staff into safe schools as quickly as possible.”

Quick Facts:

• Government has spent over $217 million and is committed to spend another $590 million for a total investment of over $800 million to ensure schools in Vancouver are seismically safe for students.
• Over the next three years, B.C. will invest $1.7 billion to replace and renovate aging school buildings and add more student spaces in growing communities.
• During the 2015-16 school year, Jamieson was operating at 99% capacity with enrolment at 476 students: 44 kindergarten and 432 grade 1 to 7 students.
• In addition to the Jamieson Elementary project, the following projects are currently underway in Vancouver:
  • Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary – $25.9 million replacement;
  • Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith Elementary – $11.6 million upgrade;
  • Lord Nelson Elementary – $17.9 million seismic replacement;  
  • Lord Strathcona Elementary – $25.6 million seismic upgrade;
  • L’Ecole Bilingue Elementary –$15.2 million seismic replacement;
  • General Gordon Elementary – $14.7 million seismic replacement;
  • Kitsilano Secondary  – $57.8 million seismic upgrade and replacement; and,
  • Queen Mary Elementary – $19.1 million seismic upgrade

(flickr.com)

Learn More:

For more information about the Ministry of Education’s Seismic Mitigation Program: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/capitalplanning/seismic/

Vancouver School Board: https://www.vsb.bc.ca/

B.C.’s New Curriculum: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/