WESTLOCK - Busby School is finally getting a new gymnasium due in no small part to the $2.5 million in stimulus funding received by the Pembina Hills School Division last year, which has freed up enough funding elsewhere for the project.
Trustees passed a motion at their April 14 meeting approving the use of Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal (IMR) funding and stimulus funding for the new gym, which is projected to cost $1.5 million — director of facilities Tracy Tyreman discussed the replacement gym while presenting the 2021-2024 Capital Plan to the trustees.
Busby School principal Angie Bachand said they’re “over the moon” with the announcement and can’t wait for work to begin — Tyreman said they’re aiming to break ground on the year-long project in July.
“We’re ecstatic. It’s Busby’s turn as we’re now currently the oldest school in the division so it’s nice we’re getting this update,” said Bachand.
“The kids are super excited and we’re thrilled.”
The numbers
Busby School has long been in need of a new gym as the current one is part of the original structure constructed in 1947 — the project has been a top priority within the division’s three-year capital plan in other years, but was usually pushed to the side in favour of more immediate needs.
Additions to the school were built in 1950, 1958 and 1986, which was the same year the school underwent a major modernization.
The current gym is only 188-square metres, whereas a modern gym would be 450 square metres. At their lowest point, the roof is only 11 feet, six inches above the ground, which makes playing basketball or badminton challenging.
“We can’t host tournaments or things like here so this will really help our kids out when it comes to the sports side of it,” said Bachand.
Last year, the division received $2.5 million in Capital Maintenance and Renewal (CMR) funding for a number of other projects, such as a $1 million roofing project at Westlock Elementary School. That meant the IMR funding that the division would have had to spend on those upgrades is now freed up.
“Basically what I’m spending on the Busby gymnasium is what I was able to pump into Westlock Elementary last year with the stimulus money," Tyreman explained.
He noted that in speaking with Alberta Education representatives, they were impressed with Busby School’s high rate of utilization, which is around 81 per cent. He also stressed that it was basically “now or never,” as the province was unlikely to allow IMR funding to be used this way in the future. This is why he was highly recommending the board approve this project.
Community partnerships
However, building a new gym isn’t the only part of the project as the old one will be converted into a music room/multi-purpose area.
This new area will not only be used by the school, but also by the community. To explain, Tyreman presented a letter from the Busby Community League, a non-profit society that owns and operates the Busby Community Hall and the Busby Sports Grounds.
The letter states that the Busby Community Hall is nearing the end of its life, despite the society’s efforts at maintaining it. This is why the community league would like partner with Pembina Hills to create a shared space that could be used by the residents and the school.
“We have an aging community centre so we’re looking forward to partnerships down the road as well. It’s all-together great for the community,” noted Bachand.
The letter suggested they would move their kitchen appliances “which are all fairly new” over into a new community kitchen at the school.
As well, the letter said the community league could also direct their fundraising efforts towards additional needs within the school instead of maintenance of the old hall.
“This is a win-win for Pembina Hills, but it’s also a win for the community,” added Tyreman.
• With files from George Blais
