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Savory Elementary receives $105,000 for new accessible playground

Langford project expected to be completed before coming school year
16012232_web1_190318-GNG-PlaygroundReplacement
(File photo)

The Sooke School District has secured funding to replace an aging school playground thanks to the B.C. government’s $5 million annual playground fund.

“We’ve been very lucky to receive money for both of our replacements so far,” said board of education chair Ravi Parmar.

The district submitted a proposal to have Langford’s Savory Elementary playground replaced after staff were directed to do an inventory of playgrounds that needed upgrades.

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“Poirier was one of our worst off last year and Savory as well, and so we’re excited to see those schools, which had older playgrounds, have those replaced,” he added. Ecole Poirier Elementary School has opened its playground after it received funds from the initiative last year.

The school district’s facilities crew could have the project complete as early as September 2019, in anticipation of the new school year.

Schools almost never receive money for playgrounds unless it’s a new development, Parmar said. Parent groups usually have had to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for new playgrounds.

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“What’s really exciting is now telling PACs that you don’t have to do that, government has made the commitment to provide money to replace old playgrounds and build new playgrounds,” Parmar said.

swikar.oli@goldstreamgazette.com


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