Students, families and the francophone community are benefiting from a structurally safe and upgraded school, with work now complete on the $2.8-million l’École Côte-du-Soleil school seismic mitigation project.

Through the joint agreement between the Ministry of Education and Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF), the K-9 school was upgraded under the Province’s award-winning Seismic Mitigation Program.

Three of the school’s six blocks were assessed as high seismic risk. As a result, the wood-framed gym and classroom block were upgraded and the concrete-framed south wing classroom block was demolished. The other three blocks are structurally safe and did not require upgrades.

Construction on the project started in spring 2016 and completed in November 2016. As with many other successful seismic upgrade projects in B.C., students were able to remain in the school during the upgrades.

Government is able to make investments like the l’École Côte-du-Soleil seismic upgrade project, thanks to the Province’s fiscal discipline and strong economy.

Quotes:

Mike Bernier, Minister of Education –

“The L’École Côte-du-Soleil seismic mitigation project will ensure young learners, teachers and staff have a safe, secure and upgraded facility to learn, teach and work. Government values the contributions of the francophone community and this investment will help strengthen it by supporting French language, heritage and culture.”

Marie-France Lapierre, chair of the board of directors at Conseil scolaire francophone –

“It is of the utmost importance to the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique for both its employees and its students to feel safe. Through its acceptance of this funding agreement, we can see that it is also important to the Ministry of Education to invest in making schools safe for the whole community.”

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, government has invested more than $114 million on capital and seismic projects in the Conseil Scolaire Francophone School District.  
• During the same time, 1,710 student spaces have been created in the district.
• With École Côte-du-Soleil complete, two of the district’s four high-risk schools have been addressed, and one school seismic replacement is currently underway.  

Learn More:

B.C.’s Seismic Mitigation Program: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/administration/resource-management/capital-planning/seismic-mitigation-program

Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique: https://www.csf.bc.ca/