BARRHEAD - Barrhead Composite High School's modernization project is moving forward as part of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's $8.6-billion Alberta School Construction Accelerator Program announced last week.
Smith told Albertans in a televised address Sept 17 that there would be an investment of $8.6 billion to expedite school modernizations and new school spaces across the province.
“This will allow us to complete actual construction on approximately 50,000 new student spaces over the next 3 years – and to complete and open over 150,000 new spaces over the four years after that,” Smith said.
Smith identified Barrhead as one of the projects that will be part of this plan.
“As part of this announcement, we have received notice that the Barrhead Composite High School Modernization and Right-Sizing project will be moving to the construction phase,” stated Pembina Hills School Division in a media release on Sept 18.
“We await further details but are optimistic that construction may begin as early as the spring or summer of 2025.”
“Pembina Hills has been very fortunate over the last number of years in modernizations,” said Pembina Hills School Division board chair David Truckey.
“I look at the time frame of Clyde, Neerlandia, Busby and now Barrhead. That is a relatively short time span. We are pretty thankful for that for our students and our staff.”
The Barrhead Composite High School Modernization Project was announced on Dec. 6, 2023 as part of Pembina Hills’s three-year capital plan.
“The intent of this modernization is to retain the school’s large CTS and drama spaces; utilize one gym as an open gathering area,” the December announcement on the Pembina Hills website states.
The project will provide necessary upgrades to mechanical, electrical, roofing and exterior components of the school and perform a modernization in other areas of the school.
Barrhead Composite High School was built in 1958 with expansions in the 1960s and 1980s.
“While some upgrades have occurred since the building was constructed, the school needs a series of extensive modernization upgrade,” states the announcement on the PHSD website.
The design phase of the Barrhead Composite High School Modernization Project started in January 2024.
