NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Ministry of Education 2005BCED0032-000329 March 22, 2005

PROVINCE APPROVES $25M FOR NEW CHILLIWACK SCHOOL

CHILLIWACK – A new $25 million combined middle and secondary school will be built in Chilliwack to help meet the needs of a growing student population, Chilliwack-Kent MLA and Chilliwack-Sumas MLA John Les announced today at a groundbreaking ceremony.

“Chilliwack students will be getting a safe, modern school with some outstanding new features that will help inspire them to achieve their best,” said Penner. “I’m particularly delighted by the planned geothermal heating system for the new school, which will provide a good role model for students when it comes to energy conservation in a safe setting.”

The school will have room for up to 900 students in grades 7 to 12, and provide comprehensive educational programs with a fine arts focus. It will include state-of-the-art science labs, business education labs, art rooms, classrooms, carpentry and mechanics shops, a music room and gymnasiums.

Enhanced common areas include a multipurpose area, art gallery, separate areas for middle and secondary students and a 350-seat theatre. There will be two soccer fields, a practice field, four tennis courts, a game court, a jogging trail, an art patio and outdoor gathering places for students.

“The Chilliwack School Board has shown great innovation by using the design/build method, which has resulted in such tremendous innovation and benefits for students,” Les said. “This is the first time a school has been built using design/build in Chilliwack and the results clearly indicate that we should be using this process more extensively across the province.”

The school will relieve overcrowding at Vedder Middle School, Mount Slesse Middle School and Sardis Secondary School and is expected to open for classes in fall 2006. The new school will be built on a 5.6 ha site on Thomas Road on the east side of the former Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack using an innovative and cost-effective design-build method. Under the design-build process, the builder is responsible for both design and construction.

“I applaud the Chilliwack school district for its forward-thinking approach to this project,” said Education Minister Tom Christensen. “There has never been a better time to be a student in Chilliwack. Our whole province is entering a golden decade of prosperity, and young people will benefit from our focus on helping all students achieve their potential at school and in life.”

The Province has invested $36.7 million in capital funding in the Chilliwack school district since 2001-02, including funding for 11 buses. The Province has also recently announced a total of more than $6.6 million in seismic upgrades to Chilliwack Secondary, Rosedale Middle School, Chilliwack Central Community Elementary and Yarrow Community School.

-more- - 2 - G.W. Graham school is part of the Province’s three-year capital plan for 2004-2007 that will provide a total of $722 million for 66 school projects, including $303 million for capital projects, $330 million for general school maintenance projects in all 60 school districts, and $89 million for seismic upgrades.

-30- For information on AchieveBC, visit http://www.achievebc.ca online.

Media Public Affairs Bureau contact: Ministry of Education 250 356-5963

Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services.