On June 18, Prime Minister Mark Carney travelled to BC to announce a $5 billion partnership with the province to develop BC infrastructure.
The majority of that funding—$3.2 billion—is going to lower development costs for multi-unit housing in bigger cities, as well as $2.5 billion for transit and $1.2 billion to improve healthcare infrastructure.
But alongside that announcement, the Prime Minister announced $200 million for Tumbler Ridge to replace the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School as well as improvements to the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre, $100 million each from the province and from the federal government.
“I want to take a minute to speak about one particularly important part of today’s announcement,” said Carney at the event on Thursday. “Back in the dark days of February—and they were dark days—the Premier and I went to Tumbler Ridge in the wake of the horrific shooting at the secondary school. We sat down and we heard directly from the students. Their parents. Their teachers. We talked to the first responders, to neighbors and to friends. And we talked about what could be done to begin to help heal from that trauma, that loss, unspeakable tragedy.
“We promised that we would be there for the community as they rebuild. And to that end, the federal government and the BC government are announcing today that we will each provide $100 million to build an entirely new school and a modernized healthcare centre for the Tumbler Ridge community. A new school for bright kids to learn, grow, and dream, and better facilities for the incredible healthcare workers who support those in need. Construction will begin this summer, starting with the removal of the existing school.”
The first part of that announcement comes as no surprise. When Carney and BC Premier David Eby were in town for a memorial on February 13, the Premier declared then that no one would be forced to go back to that school.
While the implications of that statement were a matter of much debate the weeks following that announcement, on May 7, the governments co-announced that they would be replacing the school, based on a request from the Peace River South School Board, who consulted with victims’ families, students, teachers, experts and community members.
The location and design of the new secondary school will be “informed by trauma-informed community consultations and expert advice, with that feedback guiding a plan that will come back to the community for design consultation later this year.”
People are wondering where the school will be located, as, according to the government, the old school will not just be replaced but will be located on a new site. “Location and design options will be informed by community consultations and expert advice,” says a spokesperson for the Ministry of Infrastructure, “with feedback informing a plan that will come back to the community for design consultation later this year. Project costs will be determined based on the selected project design. Construction activity will begin as early as this summer, starting with the removal of the existing school.”
And, while new schools generally take a number of years to build, “the province will work with the school district (SD59) to expedite construction of this new school where possible.”
SD59 Board Chair Chad Anderson says the design process is at a very early stage. “I would expect to see design concepts available this fall,” he says. “The community will have access to that information in the fall as we get ready to consult on those details.”
Anderson says he’s not sure how much of that promised $200 million is for the school and how much will be for the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre. “We haven’t got to that stage with the Ministry of Infrastructure,” says Anderson. “It’s the Ministry of Infrastructure that does the work on building new schools in British Columbia. There have been some rough numbers, but no specifics at this stage, because it’s so dependent on the features and floor plan size and location and land costs.”
He says it’s too early to make any promises on when actual construction on a new school will start. “The first item that will be taking place is the prompt removal of the existing Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. So that is the immediate concern—to get that process underway.”
While details are scarce about the new school, plans for the clinic are nearly non-existent. Dr Charles Helm, former head of the clinic says he heard the news the same time as anyone.
What is known is that plans are afoot to either renovate or replace the existing health centre. “The completed business case is expected to be submitted to the Province this fall for review and approval,” says the spokesperson for the Ministry of Infrastructure. “Because the project is still in the early planning stages, it’s too early to estimate what services might be offered, total costs, or project timelines. We look forward to sharing more details when we are able.”
Northern Health chose not to comment on the matter.
The most expensive school in BC was green lit last year. With a budget of $203 million, the Smith Secondary School—which should be finished by next year—will house 1900 students.
Elsewhere, the Hazel Trembath Elementary School in Port Coquitlam, destroyed in an intentionally set fire in 2023, should cost about $39 million.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
