VANCOUVER - More students and staff in Vancouver are safer at school with the completion of the seismic replacement of Eric Hamber Secondary.

"Our government continues to make record investments in upgrading, expanding and building schools to ensure students in B.C. have safe, modern classrooms where they can thrive," said Rachna Singh,Minister of Education and Child Care. "I'm delighted families, students and staff in the South Cambie neighbourhood can rest assured this school is seismically safe."

The new school, which has capacity for 1,700 students, was built to LEED gold standards that include energy-saving measures to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Eric Hamber is the first secondary school inVancouver to feature a dedicated child care centre for children under age five. The rooftop child care facility has nearly 70 licensed spaces for children.

The school integrates Indigenous designs, including a five-metre (16 foot) female welcome

figure and weaving creations inspired by xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) artists, Brent Sparrow and Debra Sparrow. This reflects the Vancouver School Board's commitment to reconciliation and

to honour the rich cultural traditions and history of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people.

"We are committed to creating learning environments that meet the needs of students, and honour the rich, cultural heritage of the land our schools stand on. The integration of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm  (Musqueam) designs throughout Hamber is a reflection of our ongoing reconciliation journey," said Victoria Jung, chair, Vancouver School Board. "Because of the Province's investment, wehave another amazing new, seismically safe learning environment in Vancouver."

The Province provided more than $94 million for the new Eric Hamber Secondary - the largest seismic school replacement project in Vancouver's history. The Vancouver School Board contributed an additional $3.5 million toward a new auditorium, while the City of Vancouver contributed $8.2 million for a child care centre.

This project is part of the Province's work to provide Vancouver students with seismically safer learning environments. Over the past seven years, the provincial government has invested more than $526 million in new, expanded and upgraded schools in the Vancouver School District. This includes the recently completed David Lloyd George Elementary and Bayview Community Elementary schools, and recent seismic upgrades completed at Edith Cavell Elementary and David Livingstone Elementary. The seismic replacement of Henry Hudson Elementary was finished this month. The new Olympic Village Elementaryschool is expected to be complete by 2029.

Since September 2017, the B.C. government has approved more than $5 billion for new and improved schools, and land purchases for schools in the province. This has resulted in more than 40,000 newstudent spaces and more than 38,000 seismically safe seats at B.C. schools.

Since September 2017, the B.C. government has approved more than $5 billion for new and improved schools, and land purchases for schools in the province. This has resulted in more than 40,000 new student spaces and more than 38,000 seismically safe seats at B.C. schools.

Quotes:

George Heyman, MLA for Vancouver-Fairview -

"Parents need the security of knowing their children are safe at school. This new replacement school not only ensures that students and staff will be safe in the event of an earthquake, but it also provides a welcoming, modern learning environment that will serve this community for years to come."

Ken Sim, mayor of Vancouver -

"We are thrilled at the completion of the seismic replacement of Eric Hamber Secondary, including thenew, dedicated child care centre for children under the age of five. This is the first child care of its kind in Vancouver, providing much needed child care for families. We're proud to support families of all ages and ensure they have a place in our city."

Learn More:

To learn more about the Vancouver School District, visit: https://www.vsb.bc.ca

For more information about major public school capital projects underway, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/administration/capital/major- capital-projects

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Ministry of Education and Child Care
Media Relations
250 208-7705

Vancouver School Board Communications
communications@vsb.bc.ca 

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect

BACKGROUNDER

More information about the Indigenous designs

The female welcome figure, carved by xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) artist Brent Sparrow, was placed atthe front of the school to signify a traditional xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) welcome onto the schoolgrounds and the territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. Female

welcome figures represent the significance of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) women, the symbol of the true matriarchs. The women in xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) culture are the true knowledge keepers, caretakers and teachers.

The weaving designs displayed on the walls of Hamber were created by artist Debra Sparrow, auntie of Brent Sparrow. The designs were inspired by the concept of weaving and incorporate traditional xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) colours - yellow, blue, green and red - honouring and reflecting xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) cultural traditions. She honoured the school by designing a pattern to reflect the school's colors: maroon and baby blue. The weaving designs tell the stories of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) history, traditions and culture, and further Debra Sparrow's work in both blanketing the City of Vancouver and Vancouver School Board schools. 

Contacts:

Ministry of Education and Child Care
Media Relations
250 208-7705

Vancouver School Board Communications
communications@vsb.bc.ca

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect