DELTA - Premier Christy Clark announced $8 million for 44 new playgrounds and playground upgrades for schools across British Columbia to help provide safe play spaces for kids to be happy and healthy.

"Learning continues outside the classroom and playgrounds are a venue where kids come together and learn from each other through play," said Premier Clark. "Playgrounds are a reminder to all of us that providing access to safe spaces helps make kids happier, healthier and ready to learn."

These 44 new school playgrounds and more than one hundred upgraded, replaced or recently installed playgrounds are thanks to $8 million over two years from the province.

Public elementary and middle schools provincewide will be eligible for the playground funding, which will ensure that every public elementary school - and every middle school that wants one - will have a playground for their students. Currently there are about 1,347 public elementary and middle schools in B.C. - 44 of which have been identified as having no playground equipment at all - and these are the schools that will be given first priority.

The Ministry of Education is currently working with school districts and parent advisory councils in the province to identify schools that had playgrounds built this year that will benefit from up to $50,000 in reimbursements. The remaining funds will go towards upgrading or replacing equipment at existing public school playgrounds.

"Well-planned school playgrounds provide unique learning environments for our children and are an important part of their school experience," said Education Minister George Abbott. "They are an extension of the classroom and help promote fun and healthy activity for kids at school."

To ensure that every public elementary school has a playground for students from the time they open, the Ministry of Education will be amending their capital project agreement with school districts to include the installation of playground equipment when building an elementary school.

Playgrounds are part of the government's commitment to healthy families in BC. It is important to engage all British Columbian families at all stages of life where they live, learn, work and play to make more informed choices and set them on the road to better health.

Over the past 10 years, government has spent more than $1.8 billion to complete 83 new and replacement schools, 149 school additions, 26 renovations and 22 site acquisitions across British Columbia. In the same time, the Province has committed more than $3.9 billion to school capital and maintenance projects, including school playgrounds.

A backgrounder follows.

BACKGROUNDER

A playground for every school

The Ministry of Education asked school districts to identify public elementary and middle schools that did not have, but wanted, a playground for their school. The following is the list of 44 schools identified that will benefit from $50,000 each in provincial funding for a new playground:

School District 8 (Kootenay Lake)

• Trafalgar Middle School

School District 20 (Kootenay-Columbia)

• Rossland Secondary School

School District 23 (Central Okanagan)

• Constable Neil Bruce Middle School
• Glenrosa Middle School
• KLO Middle School
• Springvalley Middle School
• Dr. Knox Middle School
• Rutland Middle School

School District 28 (Quesnel)

• Narcosli Elementary School

School District 33 (Chilliwack)

• G.W. Graham Middle-Secondary School
• Rosedale Traditional Community School
• Vedder Middle School

School District 34 (Abbotsford)

• Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts (ASIA) - Sumas Mountain Campus
• Colleen and Gordie Howe Middle School
• Eugene Reimer Middle School
• WA Fraser Middle School
• Abbotsford Middle School
• Clayburn Middle School

School District 36 (Surrey)

• Adams Road Elementary School
• Hazelgrove Elementary School

School District 38 (Richmond)

• Westwind Elementary School
• Daniel Woodward Elementary School

School District 43 (Coquitlam)

• Citadel Middle School
• Como Lake Middle School
• Kwayhquitlum Middle School
• Maillard Middle School

School District 46 (Sunshine Coast)

• Pender Harbour Elementary-Secondary School

School District 49 (Central Coast)

• Oweekeno Elementary School

School District 52 (Prince Rupert)

• Prince Rupert Middle School

School District 60 (Peace River North)

• Wonowon Elementary School

School District 63 (Saanich)

• North Saanich Middle School

School District 64 (Gulf Islands)

• Phoenix Alternative Elementary School

School District 67 (Okanagan Skaha)

• McNicoll Park Middle School
• Skaha Lake Middle School

School District 71 (Comox Valley)

• Brooklyn Elementary School - Cape Lazo Campus

School District 72 (Campbell River)

• Phoenix Middle School
• Southgate Middle School

School District 79 (Cowichan Valley)

• Mount Prevost Middle School

School District 82 (Coast Mountains)

• Mount Elizabeth Middle School
• Skeena Junior Secondary School

School District 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap)

• Silver Creek Elementary

School District 91 (Nechako Lakes)

• Mapes Elementary School

School District 93 (Conseil scolaire francophone)

• École André Piolat (North Vancouver)
• École des Navigateurs (Richmond)

Contacts:

Chris Olsen
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
604 220-1640

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963