CALGARY, AB.—Construction is scheduled to begin this September on five schools in Alberta with classes expected to start in the fall of 2022.

The province is moving forward with tender packages for the design and construction of four, K-9 schools and one K-4 school, located in:

• Calgary (one K-4 public school)
• Edmonton (one K-9 public school and one K-9 Catholic school)
• Cochrane (one K-9 Catholic school)
• Legal (one K-9 Francophone school)

A total of $100 million has been budgeted for these projects, which is expected to create more than 550 jobs.

“Continued investment in public infrastructure projects like the construction of these five schools is an integral part of the government’s economic stimulus package to invest in needed infrastructure and get Albertans back to work,” said Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda, in a statement.

“We are working hard to identify shovel-ready projects, accelerate processes and get construction underway as quickly as possible.”

These—and other schools across the province—have been closed as part of efforts to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These projects are part of a provincial announcement last fall to build 15 new schools in Alberta.

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EDMONTON, Alberta—Two new K-9 schools are slated to break ground this year in southwest Edmonton in an effort to create jobs and stimulate the province’s economy.

According to an article in the Edmonton Journal, the United Conservative Party government is accelerating the construction of five new schools in total.

This September, ground will break one public K-9 school and one Catholic K-9 school—which will accommodate a projected combined enrolment of 1,900 students for the 2022-23 school year.

The public school site is adjacent to the Arbours of Keswick Estates, a Rohit Land Development community. The Catholic site is adjacent to One at Keswick, a development by Beaverbrook Communities.

Beaverbrook President of Communities and Commercial Jodie Wacko told local media that they are happy with the government’s decision to move the projected start date ahead.

“Many years ago, we had redesigned the entire area to incorporate a unique layout that allowed us to have two schools, each at the end of a linear parkway linked by a storm pond,” he said.

“We’re now seeing these schools come to fruition and it excites us because it builds on our commitment to our customers and to our residents to have a complete community.”

With approximately 400 households already living in the community and another 400 to 500 expected, Wacko said that schools within walking distance in the community are important.

Rohit Marketing Manager Marty Pawlina said, in a statement, that beefing up the province’s infrastructure and creating jobs, plus the announcement of a firm construction date for the schools was a great move by the government.

“There’s significant development and momentum happening right now in the southwest. It’s the most active sector of Edmonton.”

He added that he hopes a future high school in the Heritage Valley district will receive funding in the next few years, but for now, facilities for K-9 students in both Edmonton systems is the most urgent need for Keswick.

The bidding process for each school is scheduled to begin shortly.

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CALGARY, Alberta—Late last year, government officials gathered in Alberta to announce plans for 25 new school projects, including the construction of 15 new schools.

According the CTV News, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange said the 25 school projects will be supported under the provincial government’s Budget 2019 Capital Plan.

With a funding commitment of nearly $400 million, new high schools will be built in in Calgary, Edmonton, Leduc, Blackfalds and Langdon.

“On behalf of Premier Kenney and my government colleagues, I am honored to be here at Nose Creek School to announce the funding for full construction of a new high school for north Calgary,” said LaGrange.

This announcement made residents extremely happy as this community was desperately in need of a high school, said Ian McAnerin, a parent in the neighborhood.

“It’s about time, it’s over time, the thing is it’s going to be full the day it opens, so it’s past due actually.”

McAnerin told local media that when he moved into the area 21 years ago, there was talk then of a new high school, but it continually got put on the back burner by provincial officials. Now, he’s happy for parents of young children in the community and surrounding areas who won’t have to face the same bussing issues he and his children did.

Kasia Gajewska—whose own son will probably not benefit from the new school—was an advocate for a new high school and worked hard for years to make this a reality. Her advice to others included, “Stick to it. You know your need; you know your neighborhood [and] your community. Be persistent, go for it, it can sometimes take up to 15 years. I hope it doesn’t, but stick to it.”

The province expects construction on this new high school in Coventry Hills to be finished within two years to three years.

The list of new schools for the province includes:

• K-4 Calgary Board of Education elementary school in Auburn Bay (Calgary)
• Grade 5-9 Calgary Board of Education middle school in Auburn Bay (Calgary)
• Calgary Board of Education high school in north Calgary
• K-9 Calgary Catholic School District elementary/junior high school (Cochrane)
• New Grade 7-12 Rocky View Schools junior/senior high school (Langdon)
• Grade 6-9 Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools middle school (Red Deer)
• Wolf Creek Public Schools high school (Blackfalds)
• Grade 10-12 Edmonton Public Schools high school in southeast Edmonton
• K-9 Edmonton Public Schools elementary/junior high (Windermere/Keswick)
• Grade 10-12 Edmonton Catholic Schools high school in Heritage Valley Town Center (Edmonton)
• K-9 Edmonton Catholic Schools elementary/junior high (Windermere/Keswick)
• K-12 Conseil Scolaire Centre Nord school (Beaumont)
• Grade10-12 Black Gold School Division high school (Leduc)
• K-9 Conseil Scolaire Centre Nord elementary/junior high (Legal)
• K-3 Living Waters Catholic Schools elementary school (Whitecourt)

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