The Province, the Burnaby school district, Simon Fraser University (SFU) Childcare Society and SFU Community Trust are tackling community and student enrolment growth with $3.9 million to expand University Highlands Elementary school.

MLA for Burnaby North Richard T. Lee joined the project partners, school staff and students at University Highlands to make the announcement today on behalf of Education Minister Mike Bernier.

University Highlands Elementary school is located at UniverCity, the sustainable community on Burnaby Mountain at Simon Fraser University. The project will create 195 new student spaces through the construction of a two-storey addition. The addition will house seven new elementary classrooms and one kindergarten classroom. The project will also add general storage space, accessible washrooms and a washroom off the new kindergarten space.

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Part of the project includes a development with 24 before and after school care spaces at University Highlands Elementary. This means that children will be able to stay on school property to attend their after school care program.

The Province contributed $2.75 million towards the expansion project, SFU Community Trust contributed $750,000 towards the expansion and SFU Childcare Society contributed $400,000 towards the development of the after school care program.

SFU Childcare Society’s contribution is through a grant from the Ministry of Children and Family Development, which includes an additional $100,000 to purchase outdoor equipment, furniture and appliances. SFU Community Trust has also set aside $250,000 in contingency funding for the project.

Government is able to make investments like the University Highlands Elementary school addition project thanks to the Province’s fiscal discipline and strong economy.

Quotes:

Richard T. Lee, MLA for Burnaby North –

“It’s great to see so many players come together to support the growing community of Burnaby Mountain at Simon Fraser University. Today’s investment is going to provide much needed classroom space for young learners and support families with essential in-house before and after school childcare.”

Ron Burton, Burnaby board of education chair –

"University Highlands Elementary is firmly established as the hub of the UniverCity community. We appreciate the support of our project partners who share our vision to ensure that as the community grows, we can continue to provide a safe, comfortable, quality learning environment for its' families."

Gordon Harris, president and CEO of SFU Community Trust Corporation –

“University Highlands Elementary school is the very heart of our community, and has been a perfect model of partnership – between the Province of B.C., the Burnaby school board, the City of Burnaby, SFU and the Trust. This expansion is vital to the continued liveability of UniverCity and we are grateful to the province of British Columbia for helping to keep UniverCity a national leader in liveable, affordable, and sustainable development.”

Pat Frouws, executive director, SFU Childcare Society –

“SFU Childcare Society looks forward to serving our families in this new collaboration with our partner University Highlands Elementary school. It's a great example of the community working together in the best interests of their youngest citizens!”

Quick Facts:

• University Highlands Elementary school, previously a university building, was opened in 2010 to provide educational space for the growing UniverCity community on Burnaby Mountain at Simon Fraser University.
• The capacity of the school is 290 kindergarten to grade seven students. There are currently 250 students enrolled in the school.
• Since 2010, government has invested more than $169 million towards 14 school capital, seismic and school enhancement program projects in Burnaby.
• 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.

Learn More:

Burnaby school district (SD 41): http://www.sd41.bc.ca/

UniverCity: http://univercity.ca/

SFU Childcare Society: http://www.sfu.ca/childcare.html

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