Days before it should have opened, construction has finally started on the new Burke Mountain Middle/Secondary School in Coquitlam.
Originally expected to be completed by 2023 then “reannounced” by former B.C. Premier John Horgan in 2020 for an anticipated opening next month, the $160-million project was bogged down by bureaucratic wrangling and funding challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 1,000-seat school is being funded with $135 million from the province with another $25 million from the Coquitlam School District (SD43) in partnership with the city, which will own a 3.6-hectare community park at the site which includes playing fields, a running track, tennis courts and washrooms.
BREAKING: Premier John Horgan unveils $135M for 1,000 Gr. 6-12 spaces for a new middle-secondary school on Coquitlam’s Burke Mountain. Construction to start in 2023 with completion set for 2026 | #CoquitlamBC #bced @TriCityNews pic.twitter.com/lz94S8vA2p
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) August 30, 2022
“This joint school project on Burke Mountain is an important step in creating a complete community for residents of northeast Coquitlam,” said Mayor Richard Stewart.
Fin Donnelly, the NDP MLA for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, said the need for the school has been driven by the rapid growth in the neighbourhood.
“As more families make Coquitlam their home, it’s important we keep up with the demand on our schools,” he said.
The new school will accommodate students from Grades 6 to 12. It will be built to LEED Gold equivalent standards.
Michael Thomas, the chair of SD43, said the project has been a long time coming.
“It’s incredibly exciting to witness our long-term planning come together,” he said, adding the addition of more classroom spaces at Scott Creek Middle School and the seismic upgrades to some existing schools and construction of new facilities like Coast Salish Elementary have bolstered the school district’s ability to meet the needs of local families.
The new Burke Mountain Middle/Secondary school is expected to be ready for occupancy by September 2026.
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