The Province and the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District are tackling increasing student enrolment and community growth with a brand new $24.4-million South Albion Elementary school.

Education Minister Mike Bernier made the announcement today at the Maple Ridge Board of Education office. He was joined by Marc Dalton, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission, Doug Bing, MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, Mike Murray, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows board of education chair, as well as school district and city officials. The draft design plans for the new school were unveiled as part of the event.  

The new school will be nearly 4,700 square metres and is located in the Albion area of Maple Ridge at 240th Ave. and 104th Ave. It will be a state-of-the-art building with open, modern and collaborative learning spaces to support B.C.’s new curriculum. It will have three kindergarten and 21 elementary classrooms and includes a large grass sports field.

The new school will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards. It will house a StrongStart space for early learning programs for children and a Neighbourhood Learning Centre to provide community services and programs.

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The new school is a high-priority project for the school district. It is needed to make more room for the growing number of elementary-aged children in the area, due to rapid residential development.

The Province is providing $20.8 million toward the project and the school district is contributing $3.6 million. Work is expected to start in summer 2018 and finish in fall 2019.

The school district and the City of Maple Ridge held extensive community consultations to develop the draft design plans for the new school. Part of the consultation included gathering feedback for a potential community centre on the east section of the school property, as part of an agreement between the city and the district.

The South Albion Elementary school project will also help ensure young people get a chance to learn the trades, as it will be built under B.C.’s Apprentices on Public Projects Policy.

The B.C. government is making record investments in modern, safe infrastructure projects throughout the province. In doing so, these construction projects are creating well-paying, family-supporting jobs. It is anticipated that about 74 direct jobs will be created as a result of this project. These investments are possible because of the fiscal plan of the B.C. government.

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Quotes:

Mike Bernier, Minister of Education –

“We are investing in critical school infrastructure to support B.C.’s rapidly growing communities, families and student learning. Today’s investment will create 585 new student spaces and a state-of-the-art facility to tackle enrolment pressure and give kids the space and environment they need to learn and succeed.”

Marc Dalton, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission –

“Today’s funding announcement for the new South Albion Elementary school is a very exciting day for our growing community. This new and modern school will support our youngest learners, families and south Albion neighbourhood for years to come.”

 Doug Bing, MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows –

“This funding announcement builds upon our government’s strong commitment to education in Maple Ridge and I am excited, along with the rest of our community, to see this new school built. I look forward to this state-of-the-art building providing world-class education in our community and providing our children with the tools they need to succeed.”

Mike Murray, chair, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Board of Education –

“This is a very welcome announcement. Building a new elementary school in the south Albion area of Maple Ridge has been a top priority for our school district for many years. We have worked closely with the City of Maple Ridge to engage with the community and to determine how best to meet the needs of this fast-growing neighbourhood. We are very excited to be able to move ahead with this much-needed new school.”

Quick Facts:

• Government has invested almost $62 million in capital projects in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District, including:
  • Garibaldi Secondary renovation and expansion project
  • School Enhancement Program projects at Albion Elementary, Fairview Elementary and Westview Secondary schools
• In addition, the Province invested more than $1.2 million for additional space for full-day kindergarten in the district.

Learn More:

Watch: Aerial View of New South Albion Elementary school: http://ow.ly/lXsd309gksO

Apprentices on Public Projects: http://ow.ly/UUlNg

Neighbourhood Learning Centres: http://ow.ly/UUlV0

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

StrongStart BC: http://ow.ly/ol0q309gky7

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District: http://www.sd42.ca/

City of Maple Ridge: https://www.mapleridge.ca/