Eight schools affected in June’s flooding, three in Calgary and five in High River, will be getting help protect themselves in case of future disaster.
Starting on Monday, the provincial government is offering up to $2.5M per school in funding aimed at putting in place mitigation measures to protect the institutions from future flooding.
Those measures may include:
- Landscaping and site remediation
- Relocation of susceptible equipment (i.e. electrical)
- Installation of flood-proof doors and windows
“Providing students with the facilities they need to succeed is critical to achieving the goals of Inspiring Education. We are building Alberta by fulfilling our pledge to help these communities recover from the devastating floods, and ensuring that these students can reach their full potential,” says Jeff Johnson, Alberta’s Minister of Education, in a release.
The government has identified the following schools as being eligible for funding:
Calgary
- Elbow Park School
- Rideau Park School
- St. Mary’s School
High River
- Holy Spirit Academy
- Notre Dame Collegiate
- Right Honourable Joe Clark School
- Senator Riley School
- Spitzee Elementary School
Officials say that all but three of the schools damaged in June 2013 have been repaired and are open to students.
Repairs at flood-damaged Notre Dame Collegiate, one of the hardest hit schools in High River, are now nearing completion and could see students returning soon.
Earlier in January, the Calgary Board of Education voted in favour of a plan to rebuild Elbow Park School.
The new school will be built at the same location and is expected to open by September 2016.
