Province of Manitoba Announces New Gym Projects Under Active Schools Fund

Fourteen Manitoba schools, their students and communities will benefit from new and renovated gyms as part of the first phase of the province’s five-year, $50-million Active Schools Fund, Education Minister Nancy Allan announced today.  Starting in 2011-12, projects under the Active Schools Fund will be implemented in three phases, the minister said.  New gym construction projects to begin over the next two years include seven elementary schools:  École Bonaventure in Selkirk, George Fitton School in Brandon, Arborg Early Middle Years School in Arborg, Lord Nelson, LaVerendrye and Queenston schools in Winnipeg, and École St. Georges in the Division scolaire franco manitobaine (DSFM).

 

Education Minister Nancy Allan played basketball with students from Fort Richmond Collegiate after announcing the list of school gyms to be built or renovated under the first phase of the new Active Schools Fund.  

 

 

“We all know how important it is that young people lead active, healthy and happy lives,” Allan said.  “Our five-year plan will give young people greater opportunities to be involved in sports and active lifestyles that will last a lifetime.”

Schools that will see expanded, renovated or upgraded gym facilities in the next two years include Nordale, Howden and St. Avila elementary schools and Dakota and Fort Richmond collegiates in Winnipeg, Swan Valley Regional Secondary School and Morden Collegiate.

Beginning in 2013-15, the second phase of the plan will include W. C. Miller Collegiate in Altona, Kelvin High School, Vincent Massey Collegiate and Laura Secord School in Winnipeg, and Green Acres School in Brandon.  Further assessment will be conducted and construction is estimated to begin in two to four years, said Allan.  Phase three will focus on additional projects recommended by school divisions for consideration.

Since 2000, the school capital construction program has seen the construction of 27 new gyms and five gym additions.  This is equivalent to adding 170,000 square feet of gymnasium space to schools across Manitoba, the minister said.

“I am very proud of our government’s commitment to Manitoba schools.  We have invested more than $737 million in public school capital projects since 1999,” said the minister.  “In partnership with school divisions, we have built 18 new schools and 13 replacement schools, as well as completing extensive renovations and additions to dozens of existing schools."

The Active Schools Fund builds on the successful implementation of mandatory physical education in Manitoba high schools introduced in 2008 as a result of recommendations from the Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures Task Force and will support students in attaining physical education/health education graduation requirements, said Allan.

ACTIVE SCHOOLS FUND 2011/12GYMNASIUMS 

Division	School	Action
Phase 1	Next two years
Elementary Schools
DSFM	St. George	New gym
Winnipeg	Queenston	New gym
Brandon	George Fitton	New gym and ancillary space
Lord Selkirk	Bonaventure	New gym and ancillary space
Winnipeg	Laverendrye	New gym and ancillary space
Winnipeg	Lord Nelson	New gym and ancillary space
Evergreen	Arborg	Gym addition
Louis Riel	Nordale	Change rooms
Louis Riel	Howden	Change rooms
Pembina Trails	St. Avila	Gym addition
High Schools
Louis Riel	Dakota	Add ancillary gym space
Pembina Trails	Fort Richmond	Build additional gym space  (addition or new gym)
Swan Valley	Swan Valley Regional Secondary School	New gym floor
Western	Morden Collegiate	Additional gym space
Phase 2	Next two to four years
Elementary
Brandon	Green Acres	Additional gym space
Winnipeg	Laura Secord	Additional gym space
High Schools
Borderland	WC Miller	Additional gym space
Pembina Trails	Vincent Massey	Additional gym space
Winnipeg	Kelvin	Additional gym space

 

Source http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=today&item=11750