One day after releasing Alberta’s 2018 budget, the provincial government announced it was investing in 20 new school capital projects provincewide including the construction of three new schools in Calgary and funding for the design of two additional public schools in the city.

“We’re providing our schools with stable and predictable funding to make sure that our kids can continue to get the best education possible,” said Premier Rachel Notley during Friday’s announcement in Taradale. “We are also working to end the days that have built over decades and decades of neglect of crammed and overcrowded classrooms and that’s why we’re building new schools for our kids.”

“These kids are Alberta’s future and they deserve modern classrooms, top notch facilities and world class opportunities.”

The 20 projects are scheduled to begin in 2018 and a total of $393 million in provincial funding has been allocated. The projects announced for Calgary include:

  • Elementary school in NW community of Evanston (Calgary Catholic School Division)
  • Elementary/middle school in NE community of Skyview Ranch (Calgary Board of Education (CBE))
  • Elementary school in the SE community of Mahogany (CBE)
  • The design of a middle school in SE community of Auburn Bay (CBE)
  • The design of a high school in the NE community of Coventry Hills (CBE)

Residents of the Northern Hills Community Association, which includes the communities of Coventry Hills, Panorama Hills, Hanson Ranch, Country Hills and Harvest Hills, have been organizing and calling for the construction of a public high school in their area for years and officials cheered Friday’s announcement.

In 2005, a capital plan for a high school in the Northern Hills was announced but the project never came to fruition.

Trina Hurdman, chair of the CBE board, says the funding commitment helps address a growing concern.

“The Calgary Board of Education has an ongoing need for additional schools and modernizations to support the ever-growing number of Calgary students and their learning needs," said Hurdman in a statement. "On behalf of our current and future students, we are grateful for this funding to create these new learning spaces in our developing communities.”

In addition to the projects in Calgary, the provincial government announced the following capital investments in schools in southern Alberta:

  • A replacement school in the village of Delia, northeast of Drumheller
  • A replacement school in the village of Tilley, between Brooks and Medicine Hat
  • A new public school in south Lethbridge