Bonar Law Memorial School, in Five Rivers, will benefit from extensive upgrades and a large addition.
Built in 1978, the school serves as a hub for the surrounding community. With more people moving to the area, enrolment has grown by more than eight per cent a year over the last five years, and by 50 per cent since 2019. The school currently accommodates 515 students.
"High school is a place that prepares young people for what's next - whether it's careers or post-secondary education," said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson. "They need facilities and resources that allow them to explore their options and develop their skills and competencies. Modernizing the school and creating more space for the growing number of students at Bonar Law will help students thrive and succeed."
The estimated seven-year, $31-million project includes an addition of 3,095 square metres (33,314 square feet), which will accommodate three general classrooms, a multi-purpose room, a vocational shop, a shared classroom, and a family studies space or a clothing and human development lab. There are also plans for resource rooms, offices for visiting professionals and a student services space.
"We're proud to help modernize these facilities," said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson. "I look forward to working with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to ensure Bonar Law Memorial is a school that continues to meet the community's needs for decades to come."
Mid-life modernization supports the long-term sustainability of a school by making repairs and system replacements, ensuring operational reliability and minimizing disruption to learning.
"We are deeply grateful for this investment in Bonar Law Memorial School, a school that has supported our students and community for almost 50 years," said Dean Mutch, superintendent of Anglophone North School District. "This mid-life upgrade ensures the building remains a safe, inspiring place for our students and staff for many years to come. We truly believe that our rural and small community schools are critical, and they are worth investing in."
The 2026-27 capital budget allocated $1.3 million toward the design process. Construction is expected to begin in 2027-28, with an anticipated completion date of 2033.
