Eight schools across B.C. are receiving millions of dollars to upgrade their ventilation systems, six of which are located on Vancouver Island or nearby Salt Spring Island.
On Friday, the federal and provincial governments said they were providing $4.2 million combined to help the schools upgrade their air filtration and heating, with Ottawa contributing $3.8 million and the province providing $844,000.
One of the largest contributions is going to Spencer Middle School in Langford, where nearly $900,000 will be used to upgrade the school’s HVAC system.
The upgrades will provide better ventilation and will allow the school to use a digital controls to manage the temperature and air in specific areas of the building.
“Many of these systems were still the original ones installed when the school was built back in 1975,” said Sooke School District board chair Amanda Dowhy in a release Friday.
“Alongside these replacements, we’ve installed two large air-source heat pumps to serve as the main heat source for the building,” she said. “This upgrade not only ensures a more comfortable environment but also plays a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, marking a significant step towards our commitment to sustainability.”
By the numbers
Both Doncaster Elementary in Victoria, and Sayward Elem-JR Secondary and Quadra Elementary in the Village of Sayward, are receiving roughly $500,000 a piece to upgrade their heating and ventilation systems.
Meanwhile, Southgate Middle School in Campbell River is receiving more than $450,000 in upgrades, while Eighth Avenue Learning Centre in Port Alberni is receiving $360,000 in new ventilation equipment.
Salt Spring Elementary will also receive nearly $400,000 to replace its air handling units.
The other two schools to receive funding are Merritt Secondary in Merritt, and Highland Park Elementary in Pitt Meadows.
“We are proud to support these eight projects, and will always back investments like this one that enable people to send their kids to school knowing they are safe and comfortable,” said Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser
The projects are being funded through the federal government’s COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
SEE ALSO: Port Renfrew Elementary to be replaced with almost $12M from B.C. government
(Infrastructure Canada)
Adam Chan
