City awards $2.5-million to school district for community recreation centre

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — As of yesterday afternoon, the school district has finally acquired funding the City of Fort St. John promised, regarding the gymnasium that will be built in the City’s new elementary school.

The City gave the school district $2.5 million for the project — which is, altogether, worth almost $25 million.

“I always am impressed with our City,” said Ida Campbell, Chair of the School District’s Board of Trustees. “They take the education of the district really seriously. We work incredible with the City of Fort St. John and other communities as well. We’re fortunate to have people who dedicate so much to our students and our community.”

The new gymnasium will act as a community recreation centre after school hours end, as many schools already moonlight as such in the district already to full capacity.

However, this facility will be built to accommodate after-school activities, and as such, will be more than twice the size of an average elementary school gym. Bleachers in the gymnasium will seat about 350 people, and the height clearance of the gym will be 26 feet.

“The City of Fort St. John has recognized that the amenity use is quite high. In fact, some of our groups have been unable to get time in some of the gymnasiums and some of the facilities we have right now,” said Mayor of Fort St. John, Lori Ackerman.

Secretary-Treasurer of School District 60, Doug Boyd, agrees. “At this point, every one of our gyms is booked solidly.”

Secretary-Treasurer Doug Boyd signs the MOU agreement between the City and the School District. Photo by Montana Cumming

“We decided that we had a remarkable relationship already with the school district through the Energetic Campus at the Pomeroy Sports Centre, that we would endeavour to partner again,” Ackerman continued, adding that a bigger community recreation facility will support a more active community and that it’s important to stay active in what she calls a ‘winter city.’

Following meetings with architects this week, Boyd says the district hopes the school will ready for students next fall after construction starts this spring; even though the project is expected to be completed by winter of 2017.

“How realistic is that? They might laugh at me, but I think it can be done,” he said.

The new school will house 365 elementary school students — 40 of which will be in kindergarten. The building will be almost 4,000 square feet when construction is complete.