$1.73M for school upgrades

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

School District 60 has been granted $1.73 million from the province this year for school upgrades and new buses.

The district is receiving $1.37 million through the provincial School Enhancement Program for HVAC upgrades at École Central, Hudson’s Hope, and Robert Ogilvie schools.

It’s also receiving $368,632 for two replacement school buses, one 76seat bus, and a second for 70 to 75 passengers.

Trustees passed a capital plan bylaw at their March 13 meeting to approve the provincially funded projects, and announced by the Ministry of Education on March 15.

The HVAC project at Hudson’s Hope school will be done in two phases at a total cost of $1.8 million. Two similar projects are being undertaken at Ecole Central and Robert Ogilvie to upgrade the electrical controls for their respective HVAC systems.

Meanwhile, superintendent of schools Stephen Petrucci says the district continues to lobby for the replacement and renovation of Wonowon Elementary. A final project development report is now with the ministry for funding approval.

“We hope there will be an announcement within the year,” he said.

The province says it is spending $261.1 million on school maintenance projects over the next year.

That includes $1.69 million for School District 59, for projects including electrical upgrades at Canalta Elementary, interior construction upgrades at Dawson Creek Secondary Central Campus, HVAC upgrades at Windrem Elementary and the Dawson Creek Secondary South Peace Campus, as well as three new buses.

School District 81 in Fort Nelson is receiving $806,233 for exterior wall systems upgrades at the SD Core Building, interior construction upgrades at Fort Nelson Secondary, and electrical upgrades at GW Carlson Elementary.

By Ruby McBeth

Ihave pleasant memories of people who have passed away recently.

I remember Josephine Pimm smiling as she played cards at the Seniors Club. I met Janet Johnson when she was treasurer of the Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Board. Don Stirling could be counted on to appear at Burns Night in his Mason’s uniform.

Kathy Thorlakson came to a meeting of the Baldonnel W.I. to tell us about the shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. I saw Victor Plotnikow’s collection of trophy animal heads when his wife Florence hosted the Bert Bowes Christmas party at their home. Richard Fuerst sold his wood products