Escuela Mill Creek

Just shy of two years after it was announced, a brand new Escuela Mill Creek school (9735 80 Ave.) will open its doors to K-6 students. Staff anticipated access in December, a month ahead of schedule, but students will have to wait until Jan. 22 to see their new classrooms.

The neighbourhood is invited to tour the facility at the Grand Opening Feb. 7 at 6:30 pm.

Currently home to the International Spanish Academy, Mill Creek provides a bilingual education to more than 300 public school students from across the city. Provincial funding to replace the aging existing structure was announced in March 2017. The public school board contributed dollars as well to secure space for after-school care. Principal Ed Charpentier explains that the district will recoup those costs through a 15-year payback lease with Oliver Centre, chosen to provide the service.

Construction began in October 2017, after close planning between the district, the school community and the province. By September, the old school will be gone and the site landscaped to include parking and a bus drop-off zone.

Check out the site plans.

École Joseph-Moreau

Meanwhile, six blocks south, the walls are going up on the new École Joseph-Moreau francophone junior high (9750 74 Ave.), after a summer and fall of weather delays.

A dry spell last month and extra workers meant work could begin on the steel frame and outer block walls. Earlier activity had focussed on the cement gym slab.

Wall materials were to be delivered early in December, according to a letter to the community league from Jonathan Mackay, Stantec’s community engagement consultant for the project.

Weather-permitting, work crews will work past 5 p.m. until Dec. 21, though still within bylaw limits (7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays and holidays).

Access to the site is at the corner of 97 Street and 75 Avenue. Signs have been posted there for construction traffic to watch for pedestrians and cyclists, and a designated flag person is on hand to manage traffic whenever a heavy truck needs to enter or leave the site.

Contractors have been told to park on site via this gate or on the south side of 75 Avenue, east of the secondary gate, with additional parking being secured as more trades are brought on. EPCOR disruptions in the neighbourhood should be done.

Contact Jonathan Mackay: Direct: 780-969-2198, Mobile: 780-863-6451,  jonathan.mackay@stantec.com