Nanaimo school begins major classroom expansion

NANAIMO, B.C.—Dover Bay Secondary School in B.C. is getting an expansion.

Construction has started on an addition to the Nanaimo school that will add four new classrooms.

 “With the addition of four new classrooms at Dover Bay Secondary, 100 students will be able to move out of portables and into classrooms so they can be better connected to their school,” said Jennifer Whiteside, minister of education, in a statement.

The province is contributing $2.6 million to the expansion. School District 68, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools, will contribute an additional $400,000. The renovation is expected optimize existing underused spaces, having only minimal impacts on students and staff. Along with the new classrooms, a learning hub, fitness centre and gender-neutral washrooms are being added. Construction is expected to wrap up this fall.  

“The new classrooms being added to Dover Bay Secondary will give students a better learning environment,” said Adam Walker, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum. “This project is a real win-win. There will be minimal disruption to learning, and this will set the school up to accommodate future growth.”