An artist rendering of the site for the high school and multi-use rec centre. (Supplied by Town of Coaldale)

By David Opinko

more info added including impacts to other schools

Contractor selected for new high school/rec centre in Coaldale

Jul 19, 2021 | 11:06 AM

COALDALE, AB – A major update on a significant project in Coaldale.

The Palliser School Division and the Town of Coaldale have announced that Ward Bros. Construction will be the construction management firm for the joint Coaldale High School and Coaldale Recreation Centre.

“These projects were started in design with FWBA Architects in late 2019 so we are pleased now to see them move to the construction stage, keeping both facilities on track for a Fall 2023 opening,” says Dexter Durfey, Secretary-Treasurer of the Palliser School Division. “This joint initiative with the Town of Coaldale is bringing new resources to the community that will contribute to a thriving and healthy environment for years to come.”

A media release from the two organizations states that Ward Bros. was chosen because they bring more than 40 years of experience in both public and private projects, “to an exacting standard while delivering on time and on budget.”

They are the same firm that was hired for the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre expansion at Exhibition Park and the ATB Centre Lethbridge.

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The new school will serve as the replacement for Kate Andrews High School, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2021.

To be located north of the train tracks, the school will be able to accommodate up to 855 students in Grades 7-12. The inclusion of grades seven and eight means that grade levels will be reconfigured elsewhere in the community.

“Jennie Emery, the elementary there, is way beyond capacity and there’s not much space left for any more portables or modulars on site, so we’ll be changing that to a K-3. R.I. Baker [Middle School] will go to a 4-6.”

While final decisions have yet to be made, Durfey says the plan is to move students from John Davidson School to Kate Andrews as a way of giving those in the alternative program for Low German-speaking Mennonite youth additional opportunities in a larger facility.

The Palliser School Division still has plenty of work ahead of them over the next two years in terms of the logistics of these decisions.

The Alberta Government’s 2021 budget included $1.6 billion for 14 school capital projects including this facility in Coaldale.

READ MORE: New schools, replacements, and modernizations coming to Southern Alberta

Students will have direct access to the recreation centre, which will be built jointly with the high school.

A major feature of the new high school will be to expand their dual credit programs with other post-secondary and trades schools such as the current KA Fire Academy.

Educational programming involving the area’s wetlands, situated near the school’s new site, will become an integrated part of student learning.

It was not stated when construction is expected to start.