CANADA, September 8 -
Summary
- This September, 23 new and improved schools are opening, including two in Maple Ridge that create 875 seats for students
- This includes the seismic replacement and expansion of École Eric Langton Elementary, delivering a new, safer and expanded school with 215 new seats and 465 replacement seats
- An addition at Golden Ears Elementary adds 195 new seats for students, to support community growth
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As families prepare to send their kids back to school, they can take comfort in knowing more student spaces are ready and more are underway to support student learning and growth.
“Parents have been advocating for safe, updated schools in our local community,” said Lisa Beare, acting Minister of Infrastructure, and Minister of Education and Child Care. “This is why I’m so excited to announce the new seismic replacement of École Eric Langton, as well as the addition at Golden Ears opening this fall. With these new projects, hundreds of Maple Ridge students will have a bright, new welcoming space waiting for them.”
Since 2017, the Province has invested in 250 school capital projects, including nine capital projects in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district. Six of these projects are now complete.
The three projects underway are:
- the replacement of Pitt Meadows Secondary school, which is expected to start construction in fall 2026
- the addition at Blue Mountain Elementary, which is under construction and expected to be complete in early 2027
- a seismic upgrade at Harry Hooge Elementary, which is currently in design and expected to begin construction in summer 2027
Features of the new École Eric Langton Elementary
The seismic replacement and expansion of École Eric Langton Elementary offers educational programming for students in kindergarten to Grade 7 in the downtown area of Maple Ridge.
Located on the same property as the old school, the new school includes:
- a larger capacity of 680 student seats, adding 215 new seats to support community growth
- a neighbourhood learning centre for child care and community use
- throughout the design process, the school district worked with Katzie First Nation to incorporate design elements that reflect Indigenous ways of knowing
- built to LEED Gold standards, the school design offers a sustainable and energy-efficient learning environment
The Province provided $46.4 million for the project and the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District provided $2.5 million.
“The opening of the new École Eric Langton Elementary is both a key milestone for the community and part of a much larger investment in public education across Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows,” said Elaine Yamamoto, chair of the Maple Ridge School District. “Funding such as this helps us remain responsive to the needs of our growing communities, adding much-needed spaces and creating welcoming environments for students, staff and families. We are grateful to the Province for its continued partnership and investment in our schools.”
Features of the Golden Ears Elementary addition
Golden Ears Elementary offers educational programming for students in kindergarten to Grade 7 in central Maple Ridge.
The addition includes:
- 195 new seats for students in eight classrooms
- a sustainable and energy-efficient design, improving the learning environment
The Province provided $12 million for this project.
Creating more student spaces throughout B.C.
- Since 2017, the Province has approved more than $7 billion for 250 school capital projects, creating nearly 50,000 new student seats and almost 40,000 seismically safer seats in B.C. schools.
- This includes more than $263 million the Province has committed to create 1,190 new seats and 3,720 seismically safer seats for students in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District.
- Throughout the province, more than 29,500 new student seats and 35,000 seismically safer seats are now being used by students.
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