LAC LA BICHE – A new school will soon replace Lac La Biche’s 52-year-old Vera M. Welsh Elementary School. The project is one of 11 school projects across Alberta that have been fast-tracked by the province for construction.
According to information released by the Government of Alberta on May 21, the province is speeding up construction of the previously announced school projects. These schools are being fast-tracked as part of the provincial School Construction Accelerator Program.
“When complete, the 11 projects will create more than 8,000 new and updated student spaces,” according to the provincial government.
Nicole Garner, the communications and public relations manager for Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS), said the announcement means the project is going to construction.
Regarding the time frame for when shovels will break ground, that has yet to be determined, said Garner.
The project will now be put out to tender to see which construction firm will be contracted to build a new school.
“I don’t have the information on the timeline, but we are now in that final phase, which is construction,” Garner said.
Priority for NLPS
A new Vera M. Welsh Elementary School has been on the NLPS board of trustees’ capital plan for more than 20 years. The current school building has several issues, including an underground spring running through the lower mechanical room.
Design funding for a new building was approved in 2023. A site located next to the Bold Centre was then approved during a meeting of Lac La Biche County council in September 2023 and finalized in April 2024.
The school will have many new features, including a learning commons that opens into a gathering area, a stage that folds into the gymnasium wall, along with viewing windows for parents to observe activities in the gym. Other features include a dedicated music room, two sensory rooms, and a servery to support the school's lunch program.
The school division is clearly happy that the project is being fast-tracked.
“This is really exciting for us,” said Garner, adding the announcement is the result of many years of advocating by numerous boards, people in the community, and support from various municipal councils and provincial MLAs.
“To finally see it coming close to the finish line is amazing.”
Karen Packard, chair of the NLPS board of trustees, also praised the announcement on May 21.
“It has truly been a team effort to get this project to the final stage,” said Packard. “We are immensely grateful for the support we have received from Minister Brian Jean, Lac La Biche County, and the community in moving this project forward.”
Packard said it is incredibly rewarding to see the dream move closer to reality.
“We can’t wait for construction to begin and to celebrate with the community when it is completed.”
Fast-track program
During the fall of 2024, the Government of Alberta announced an $8.6 billion plan to fast-track school construction to build and modernize over 100 schools throughout the province.
According to the province, since that time, 33 previously announced school projects have been approved to move forward to the next stage of the construction process. Currently, there are 132 active school projects in communities across Alberta.
Demetrios Nicolaides, the province’s minister of education and childcare, said the government is building more schools at a faster rate than ever in Alberta.
“Through this innovative approach to building more schools now, backed by our generational investment of $8.6 billion to build more than 100 schools across the province, we will ensure every student in Alberta has the space to engage in the province’s world-class education system,” said the minister.
