Vancouver Island schools receive seismic upgrades

VANCOUVER ISLAND — Two schools on Vancouver Island are more seismic proof than ever thanks to a provincial investment.

Ucluelet Elementary and Ucluelet Secondary schools have both completed extensive replacements to make the schools safer in the event of an earthquake.

According to a press release, the entire structure of the elementary school was replaced with a partial replacement of the secondary school structure.

The secondary school also gained a new music room, library, administration offices and classrooms adding space for up to 250 new students, the release reads.

The upgrades were funded with $44.8 million from the province.

“These projects are part of the province’s work with B.C. school districts to provide students with access to seismically safer seats. During the past four years, the Government of B.C. has approved more than $1.2 billion in seismic upgrades or replacements at 59 schools provincewide,” the release states.