At Selkirk Elementary, Grade 6 and 7 students, families, and staff celebrated the completion of the newly upgraded, seismically safe Building B of the school today (May 3).
Students attended classes at the closeby Gladstone Secondary's site while the necessary upgrades took place. They are now excited to be reunited with the rest of the school community on the same site.
Due to current public health guidelines, celebrations were limited, but the Grade 6 and 7 students took part in a parade around the site as the school community welcomed them back.
"It continues to remain a priority of the Board to ensure all students attend seismically safe schools as quickly as possible," says Carmen Cho, Vancouver School District Board Chair. "As a Board, we are delighted for another project complete that brings us a step closer to this goal; and celebrate with the Selkirk community."
The building served Vancouver students well throughout the years, but as it did not meet current seismic standards, as part of the province's seismic mitigation program, the Ministry of Education approved $5.7 million towards the upgrade.
"On behalf of the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), and all Lord Selkirk families, we want to extend our sincere thanks to the Vancouver School Board, project office for their diligent work on this important project," says Jennifer Cooper-Stephenson and Heather Schofield, Lord Selkirk Elementary PAC co-chairs. "As a parent community we are grateful that all current and future Lord Selkirk students have a seismically upgraded, accessible and safe building in which to learn."
The parent community also express appreciation to the administration and staff at the school for their commitment and dedication to the school community. This included ensuring that the students accommodated off site during the work continued to have a supportive and engaging learning environment.
As well as the seismic work, additional accessibility upgrades included installing a new elevator, adding an exterior ramp to the lower level, and accessible washrooms on all floors. Other improvements included water piping upgrades and the installation of a new drinking and bottle filling station.
The remaining school site has either been previously seismically upgraded or does not need seismic upgrades.
Learn more about the seismic mitigation program to make schools safer in the event of an earthquake.
