CALGARY – There will be six new public schools built in Calgary over the next few years.
Minister of Education Jeff Johnson made the announcement on Wednesday morning.
A middle school will be built in Saddle Ridge, which the Calgary Board of Education had previously listed as a top priority, as well as one in Royal Oak. Parents in Royal Oak cheered when they heard the news.
“We had 300 plus people come out to our rally back on Family Day that supported it,” says Jeff Walker from the Rocky Ridge-Royal Oak Community Association. “I think a lot of parents have made a big difference in getting this school for us.”
Meanwhile, elementary schools have been announced for Copperfield, Evanston and New Brighton, other areas which the CBE had highlighted as being in desperate need. However, parents in New Brighton are upset they’re only getting a K-4 school, and not the middle school they requested.
“It’s tough to hear that, because these communities in this area are getting bigger and bigger, and there are a lot of young families,” explains Jillian McKenzie. “It would be nice to know we could send our kids to at least elementary and middle school here.”
Johnson also announced a high school will be built in northeast Calgary, attached to the Saddletowne YMCA. It will service the communities of Martindale and Taradale.
In addition to six new public schools, three Catholic schools will be built in Calgary; two K-9 facilities in Auburn Bay and Evanston, and an elementary school in Martindale. The news means Calgary will receive nine new schools in total.
The government says that generally, new schools take an average of three or four years to build.
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