Submitted. The $9.8-million seismic upgrade project at Yale Secondary is now complete, ensuring students, teachers and
staff have a safe place to learn and teach for years to come.
MLA for Abbotsford South Darryl Plecas visited the school on behalf of Education Minister Mike Bernier to tour the newly
completed upgrades. Plecas was joined by students, and school and district staff members to celebrate
the completed project.
The project included seismically upgrading the two core blocks at the centre of the school. One of the upgraded blocks
hosts administration, drama and music facilities, and the other houses computer rooms, science rooms and a
home economics room. Specific upgrades include various concrete work, new reinforced shear walls, upgrades to roof and
floors and the replacement of all mechanical and electrical equipment and fixtures in the upgraded areas.
The project also brings a seismic monitoring device to the school, which will help the staff and students better respond
to an earthquake.
The Province contributed $6.6 million towards the project, and the school district contributed $3.2 million.
While construction was underway, students were housed in seven on-site portable. The upgrade began in the summer of 2015
and was completed in September 2016, in time for back to school. Including Yale Secondary, six of the district’s eight
seismic-school projects are now complete.
Government is able to make school investments like Yale Secondary school seismic-mitigation project, thanks to the
Province’s fiscal discipline and strong economy.
“On behalf of the Abbotsford Board of Education, I would like to say how pleased we are to see the facility upgrade
completed at Yale Secondary school. The seismic upgrade provided an opportunity to renew and refresh many aspects at
this busy campus. We are very appreciative of the partnership we have with the Ministry of Education, which allowed this
project to move forward and to the many trades and partners who provided their assistance throughout the renovation.” – Rhonda Pauls, board chair, Abbotsford school district