Queen Elizabeth Elementary School Expansion to Receive Third Floor
We’re delighted to share that the Queen Elizabeth Elementary School expansion project will include an additional floor in its final construction! This will transform the building from a two-storey structure to a three-storey school that provides space for 21 classrooms. Once completed, the added rooms will allow Grade 5 students to return to Queen Elizabeth Elementary.
The Ministry of Education and Child Care approved the additional space for the school on October 24, 2023, bringing the provincial government’s total investment up to $34.03 million. The third floor will increase Queen Elizabeth Elementary’s total capacity to 763 students.
“This investment reflects our government’s dedication to preparing for future families and ensuring our students have the best learning environment possible,” says Aman Singh, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough. “I commend the advocacy and collaboration of all parties involved in making this expansion a reality, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our Queensborough community.”
“We’re thrilled to hear the project at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School will receive a third floor,” said Maya Russell, chair, New Westminster Board of Education. “The Province of BC heard us about the pace of population growth in this community, and the need to prepare for future families. This larger expansion will go a long way to alleviate pressures in Queensborough’s elementary and middle schools.”
“This is great news for the Queensborough community,” said Sarah Phelan, principal, Queen Elizabeth Elementary School, “We are all very excited to see the increase in space, as we are a growing community. The additional room provides exciting opportunities for our Queensborough families and staff.”
“It really is fantastic news,” said Tabitha Guichon, chair, Queen Elizabeth Elementary School Parent Advisory Council, “We are tremendously grateful for the Board’s advocacy to ensure we have space to meet our growing needs. Having the Grade 5 students move back to the elementary school is something that our community has been advocating for over the years. We’re glad to see that happening and be back in alignment with the other elementary schools in the district.”
Like the original expansion plan, the updated plans will continue to feature a neighbourhood learning centre within the building that will include before-and-after-school childcare options.
About the Queen Elizabeth Elementary expansion
In June 2021, the Ministry of Education and Child Care revealed a $20.1 million investment to support a 13-classroom expansion at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School. The announcement was – and remains – a significant step towards addressing classroom space shortfalls in the fast-growing Queensborough community. The third-floor expansion was a high priority within the newly-approved Long Range Facilities Plan.
Once finished, the expansion will feature a three-storey addition connected to the main school building via an enclosed breezeway. The project’s anticipated completion date is being finalized but is targeted for the 2025/2026 school year owing to the changing project scope and challenging site conditions at the proposed building area.
The Queen Elizabeth Elementary expansion is one of the ways New Westminster Schools is addressing the District’s school capacity pressures. The District is working to mitigate its capacity crisis by taking steps to create more space as greater numbers of students seek enrollment in district schools. New Westminster Schools’ Long Range Facilities Plan describes many of the challenges facing our community and includes strategic recommendations aimed at creating more room for students at school facilities.
- Learn more about New Westminster Schools’ school capacity crisis
- Learn more about the Long Range Facilities Plan
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