Students at Isabella Dicken Elementary are returning to an expanded and improved school now that an 80-seat addition is complete.

“Our government is committed to building, expanding, and upgrading schools throughout B.C.,” said Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care. “Through this new addition in Fernie, 80 students will have an opportunity to learn and thrive in upgraded facilities.”

Students have moved into the new single-story addition at Isabella Dicken Elementary. The addition includes four kindergarten classrooms, a media technology room, a special education room and a multipurpose room. The Government of B.C. provided $7.8 million to fund the expansion, and the Southeast Kootenay Board of Education contributed an additional $500,000 toward the project.

“We are looking forward to the opportunities that the Isabella Dicken Elementary addition will provide the students in the rapidly growing community of Fernie,” said Doug McPhee, board chair, Southeast Kootenay School District. “Our thanks again for the funding and support of the provincial government. We are excited to continue our collaborative efforts to ensure that students in the Southeast Kootenay School District have adequate, appropriate and safe educational spaces in which to learn and grow.”

The Province is making investments in Fernie to build capacity and support the community for future generations. In addition to the expansion of Isabella Dicken Elementary school, the Province provided $3.5 million in December 2020 to purchase land for a future school in south Fernie.

Since September 2017, the Government of B.C. has announced 24,000 new student spaces and 35,000 seismically safer seats. This is thanks to almost $3.9 billion the Province has provided for new and improved schools, as well as land purchases for future schools throughout the province.

Budget 2023 includes $3.4 billion for school capital projects over the next three years, including new and expanded schools, seismic upgrades and replacements, and land purchases for future schools.

Learn More:

To learn about the Southeast Kootenay School District, visit: https://www.sd5.bc.ca

For information about major public school capital projects underway, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/administration/capital/major-capital-projects