Sylvia Cole & Carolyn McTighe
Residents of Chestermere are one step closer to the official opening of their new K-9 school.
Construction crews, local officials, Rocky View School trustees and municipal delegates came together Nov. 16 to mark the official groundbreaking of the Kinniburg site.
For Chestermere Mayor Patricia Matthews, the construction of the new school not only shows how much the community is expanding, but emphasizes how much residents, local council and Rocky View Schools trustees care about the education of Chestermere’s youth.
Matthews said it is a step in the right direction and one that she feels will only draw more people to the community, especially young, working families.
“Our community is growing and approximately one third of that population is under the age of 25,” she stated.
“This school is going to allow us to better serve the community and catch up with all that growth. It was a chilly day for the event, but everyone’s spirits were very high and more than made up for the cold. We are all very excited about this school and are looking forward to when construction is finally done.”
Chestermere’s 64,000-square-foot K-9 school will have capacity for 500 students. There is room at the site, located on the east side of Chestermere Lake in the community of Kinninburgh, to expand the school to fit 900 students as well as additional room for 16 future modular classrooms.
The school, expected to be completed in September 2014, is one of three projects currently underway in the Rocky View Schools division. The other two are being built in the city of Airdrie.
All three schools are part of a public-private partnership (P3) that was put forth by the province in May 2011.
After Chestermere’s official sod-turning ceremony, officials attended similar events in Airdrie.
Rocky View Schools Chair Bruce Pettigrew was joined by Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown, local MLA Rob Anderson and Justice Minister Jonathan Denis last week as the four made their way between Chestermere and Airdrie to announce the construction starts.
Others were present including school board trustees, members of Airdrie Chamber of Commerce and parents to watch the celebrations.
“It’s a great honour to break ground for a new school,” said Pettigrew outside the construction site for the middle school now under construction in Airdrie’s Sagewood community.
The school, located off First Avenue on Sagewood Boulevard, will hold 900 grades 5 to 8 students in an expected 6,400-square-metre space. An additional 16 modular classes will be needed as well.
“This will relieve a lot of pressure,” said Pettigrew of the growing number of students in Airdrie. “This is probably the fastest growing city in Canada,” he added.
Denis said with Airdrie’s population hovering around 47,000, the two new schools are necessary.
“Growth in the city is a positive thing for the province, but we also have a responsibility to keep up with the infrastructure.” he said.
MLA Rob Anderson commended the community for “fighting” for the two new schools.
“I don’t think I’ve received more mail on anything else over the last four years. The community came together and said this is the number one thing we need and they did it together,” he said.
Anderson added he wants to ensure Rocky View Schools is getting “their fair share” of the 50 promised new schools, promised by the Province, pointing out the division is the fifth largest in Alberta.
“It’s a huge school district and the fastest growing for sure. We need to do what’s right for our students,” he said.
Mayor Peter Brown also commended the community for vocalizing the need for new schools in Airdrie.
“I don’t believe this would have happened without all of their support,” he said. “I look forward to opening more schools in the coming months.”
While at Airdrie’s second new school location in Chinooks Winds, Brown said the location will be great for students, who will be in grades 9 to 12.
The 10,547-square-metre high school will accommodate 1,000 students with space for eight future modular classrooms. It is located across from the Rocky View Schools’ Education Centre on Chinook Winds Drive.
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