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B.C.’s Education and Child Care Minister Jennifer Whiteside (left) was in Richmond today to announce the completion of seismic upgrades at two local schools.
Photo by Hannah Scott
Seismic upgrades complete at Maple Lane, Tomsett
Published 1:02 PDT, Thu April 21, 2022
Last Updated: 1:02 PDT, Thu April 21, 2022
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Students and staff in Richmond can learn and work in seismically safer schools now that upgrades are complete at Maple Lane and F.A. Tomsett elementary schools.
More seismic upgrades are also on the way, with work beginning at James Whiteside and William Bridge elementary schools.
"Parents and families want to know their children are safe when they drop them off at school, and these projects demonstrate our government's ongoing commitment to ensure our schools are seismically safe," said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education and Child Care.
Since September 2017, the province has invested nearly $115 million in seismic upgrades and replacements at 10 Richmond schools, giving almost 4,365 students safer places to learn. This includes $14.4 million for recently completed seismic upgrades to Maple Lane and F.A. Tomsett elementary schools. The Richmond School District contributed an additional $3.6 million for the upgrades at F.A. Tomsett, which included a four-classroom addition to support neighbourhood growth.
"The Richmond Board of Education is pleased to announce that seismic upgrades have been completed at Maple Lane and Tomsett elementary,” said Richmond Board of Education chair Sandra Nixon. “Everyone deserves to learn and grow in a safe environment, and we are proud to work with the Ministry of Education and Child Care to continue to improve the safety of Richmond's schools."
Work is now underway on seismic upgrades at William Bridge and James Whiteside elementary schools. The province has invested over $30 million for seismic upgrades at these two schools, with the school district contributing $2.1 million for the work at Whiteside. Construction at both schools is expected to be complete in summer 2023. Students will remain in the schools while work is underway.
"The Maple Lane school community is delighted with the recent seismic upgrades to our school,” said Maple Lane parent advisory committee treasurer Michael Boetzkes. “It is great to see the Ministry of Education and Child Care, and the Richmond School District, renewing the schools to meet seismic requirements, and at the same time dramatically improving the learning environment for our children.”
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