PANDAS ARRIVE IN CALGARY

Bears settle in for five-year stay

One day after Premier Rachel Notley announced Budget 2018, she was in Calgary to announce 20 school projects across the province — five of which are in Calgary.

Three new buildings were approved — a K-4 elementary school in Mahogany, a K-9 elementary/ middle school in Skyview Ranch and a K-6 Catholic school in Evanston.

Also announced was the design funding for a new high school in Coventry Hills, as well as a middle school in Auburn Bay.

“These kids are Alberta’s future and they deserve modern classrooms, top-notch facilities and world-class opportunities, and that’s what we are here to talk about,” said Notley.

“This is one of the most important investments we can make for the future of our children and the future of Alberta. These projects are a mix of new schools in fast growing urban centres, replacement schools to revitalize communities and provide updated infrastructure, and modernizations to keep students in spaces that can meet their learning needs.

“The schools we say are getting built, are getting built. In fact, the new schools we are announcing today add to the hundreds that have already been built, or are currently being built.”

The Mahogany school sat third in last year’s Calgary Board of Education construction capital plan, while the Skyview Ranch project sat fifth.

Funding had already been received for the Cranston elementary school, Coventry Hills/Country Hills Village elementary school and the Forest Lawn high school modernization — which sat first, second and fourth respectively.

Cheryl Low, board chair for the Calgary Catholic School District, said that the Evanston facility sat atop their priority list.

“It’s very exciting for us ... We know we are having continuing pressures to meet the needs of our students in our growing communities, so we are very excited to be able to provide that school,” said Low.

“We opened a school there a couple of years ago and we were already almost at capacity.”

The sentiment was echoed by Marilyn Dennis, board vice-chair for the Calgary Board of Education.

“Today ’s announcement is an exciting time for our communities,” said Dennis.

“It means their children will be able to attend school closer to where they live. This important funding will reduce the need for transportation and will provide dynamic spaces to support the changing learning needs of our students.”

The province says elementary schools cost approximately $18 million each, middle schools cost approximately $29 million and high schools can cost anywhere from $45 million to $80 million.

A total of $393 million was allocated for the projects, which are all expected to be complete for the 2022-23 school year.

These 20 projects will create more than 4,900 jobs and almost all of them are set to have construction begin in 2019.

Notley said the Auburn Bay middle school and Coventry Hills high school will follow closely on the heels of the other projects.

These kids are Alberta’s future and they deserve modern classrooms, topnotch facilities and world-class opportunities.

LEAH HENNEL Four giant pandas arrived at Calgary International airport on Friday from Toronto and will be staying at the Calgary Zoo for the next five years, where they are expected to fuel a big boost in attendance.

J.B.PITTMAN/CALGARY ZOO Officials were tight-lipped about the panda family’s travel itinerary, and the four newest Calgary residents will be kept away from the public until May 7 while they get acclimated to their new home.

DEAN PILLING “This is one of the most important investments we can make for the future of our children,” Premier Rachel Notley said, as she announced 20 new school projects scheduled to begin in 2018.