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$106.5M New West High School Replacement Project Is Largest In History

New West High School Replacement

The provincial government has announced a $106.5 million replacement of New Westminster Secondary School (NWSS).

As one of the largest secondary schools in British Columbia, NWSS has been a hot topic for years due to the school’s poor condition and high seismic risk.

The high school was originally built in 1949 on land formerly used as a burial ground and staging area for the military during the Second World War.

The new school building will be situated nearby on particular parts of land outside the burial areas with the help of an archeologist to ensure all heritage requirements are met and any historic artifacts are recorded.

“This parcel of land has a very rich and complex history. We are encouraged to learn that the new school building will not be built over any former burial sites. We also welcome plans for broad community consultations and look forward to contributing to that process.‎” said Hilbert Yiu, president of the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver.

The design process for the new school will begin in 2017 and will focus on safety, accessibility, and modern learning.

As of December 2019, nearly 2,100 students, from grades 9 to 12, will move into a new building for a fresh start. The old building will ultimately be demolished.

Local education continues to be the centre of discussion with the province making significant changes across the lower mainland. One of the most notable changes has been eliminating provincial exams for graduating students and replacing them with two core exams.

 

Photo: Province of BC

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