A Richmond elementary school received provincial funding of more than $50 million to be rebuilt to the latest seismic safety standards.
The provincial government is giving more than $52 million to Diefenbaker elementary to be replaced with a seismically safer school for 465 students.
According to the Richmond Board of Education's 2023-2024 five-year capital plan, seismic upgrade cost was estimated to be around $13 million for the school.
The funding will also allow the new school to get a neighbourhood learning centre with services like child care.
Diefenbaker will also be designed to reduce greenhouse gases by more than 75 per cent as part of the province's Clean BC emissions-reduction goals.
Construction of the new school is expected to be completed by April 2028.
In the past seven years, the Richmond School District has received $245 million in financial help from the provincial government for seismic upgrades and school expansions for more than 500 new student seats.
Heather Larson, chair of the Richmond Board of Education, said the collaboration between the school district and the provincial government puts the students' and staff's safety and well-being first.
“The replacement of Diefenbaker Elementary with a seismically safe learning environment that is built with sustainable design principles will ensure that our students have a secure, sustainable and inspiring place to learn and grow," said Larson.
“I’m proud of our government’s ongoing dedication to safeguarding this community’s students through continued investments,” said Kelly Greene, MLA for Richmond-Steveston.
“As a former Diefenbaker Bulldog, I know how important the school has always been to the fabric of the neighbourhood. I am thrilled we are delivering on this much-needed replacement school so that a new generation of Diefenbaker students and staff have safe learning environments for years to come.”
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