Nanaimo’s Cilaire and Pleasant Valley elementary schools will be getting a combined total of $18.8 million in seismic upgrades, Education Minister Rob Fleming announced Friday.
The two schools have a total capacity of 500 students.
The funds include the cost of renovating Rutherford Elementary and Woodlands Secondary as temporary accommodation for students from Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District sites undergoing seismic work.
Construction is also expected to get underway soon on a $15.9-million addition to Hammond Bay Elementary.
Work on the seismic projects is scheduled to begin in June 2021 and be completed by September 2022.
Nanaimo-Ladysmith School Board chairwoman Charlene McKay said Cilaire and Pleasant Valley schools had been at the top of the province’s list for seismic mitigation.
Pleasant Valley parent Karen Delves said the seismic project had been talked about for many years.
“It is comforting to know that our children will be learning in buildings that should keep them safe in the event of an earthquake.”
