School District 43 (SD43) needs to build six more elementary schools in the Tri-Cities to keep pace with demand over the next decade.
But even that may not be enough given the new provincial legislation mandating housing builds.
Last month, Coquitlam city council voted in favour of the 2025–26 Eligible School Sites Proposal, a SD43 document also endorsed by councils in Anmore, Belcarra, Port Moody and Port Coquitlam (Coun. Matt Djonlic was not present for the vote).
New provincial rules pinch Coquitlam's housing, child care plans https://t.co/jxDfcfETUY
— Tri-City News (@TriCityNews) February 26, 2024
The plan, which is the same as last year’s, shows SD43 needs $192.7 million to buy 11.1 hectares of land for about 5,000 more students.
The six proposed school sites are:
- Marigold Elementary (Coquitlam)
- Address: 1350 Pollard Ave.
- Cost: $28.3 million
- Student projection: 455 students
- SD43 has already acquired this site from the city and Wesbild and will be transferred to SD43 once the servicing is complete
- Riverwalk Elementary (Coquitlam)
- Cost: $28.3 million
- Student projection: 455 students
- The future school site was designated in the city’s Official Community Plan in 2001 and is part of the third phase of neighbourhood planning in the Northwest Burke Vision
- Hazel–Coy Elementary (Coquitlam)
- Cost: $28.3 million
- Student projection: 455 students
- The neighbourhood is the first phase in the Northwest Burke Vision
- Fraser Mills Elementary (Coquitlam)
- Cost: $26 million
- Student projection: 455 students
- A 1.2 ha site for a compact “urban” school is eyed for the waterfront community that Beedie is now constructing off United Boulevard in south Coquitlam
- Coquitlam City Centre Elementary
- Cost: $45.7 million
- Student projection: 455 students
- A 1.2 ha site for a compact “urban” school is proposed for the southwestern corner of the Coquitlam Centre mall
- Port Moody Centre Elementary
- Cost: $35.8 million
- Student projection: 455 students
SD43’s board of education, which endorsed its Eligible School Sites Proposal in April, based its plan on the projected 29,245 new housing units in the Tri-Cities over the next 10 years.
Each year, the five municipalities share their forecasts with SD43 for new homes based on data from Metro Vancouver, as well as a review of active development bids and trends.
It includes (in alphabetical order):
- Anmore: 210 units
- Belcarra: 30 units
- Coquitlam: 19,650 units
- Port Coquitlam: 2,600 units
- Port Moody: 6,755 units
Still, in a report, Andrew Merrill, general manager of planning and development, wrote that while the SD43's proposal offers a sufficient supply of school space for the current future growth numbers, Coquitlam needs to revise its population projections as a result of the recent provincial housing legislation that’s aimed at easing the housing crisis.
In July 2023, Merrill stated that the estimated land costs for the Marigold, Hazel–Coy and Riverwalk sites rose 25 per cent over the previous year, and 32 per cent for the City Centre property; however, for this year, the land prices stayed pat, he wrote.
Hazel Trembath Elementary
As for Hazel Trembath Elementary, the Port Coquitlam school that burned down last fall, the Ministry of Education and Child Care told the Tri-City News this week that ministry staff are working closely with the SD43's facility and capital project team on the business plan to rebuild.
"The Province and District appreciate everyone’s patience while this process continues," a ministry spokesperson said.
When asked about Hazel Trembath Elementary in Port Coquitlam & its rebuild after being destroyed in a fire in October 2023, Singh said thr process is currently in the “planning stages of the business plan” | #PortCoquitlam #bcpoli #bced pic.twitter.com/efCqsyWukV
— Tri-City News (@TriCityNews) May 10, 2024
