TUMBLER RIDGE — A new secondary school is at the centre of a major infrastructure investment for a northeast B.C. community, as part of a multi-billion-dollar agreement between Ottawa and Victoria.
The federal and provincial governments have committed a combined $200 million for projects in Tumbler Ridge, including construction of a new school and upgrades to the local health centre.
Construction is expected to begin as early as this summer, starting with the removal of the existing school.
The funding is part of a broader partnership that will see more than $5 billion invested in infrastructure across British Columbia, including housing, health care and community services.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the agreement is aimed at strengthening communities and improving affordability.
“Canadians gave our government a clear mandate to build a stronger country – one where people are empowered with more opportunities, lower costs, safer communities, and homes you can afford,” said the Prime Minister.
Premier David Eby said cooperation between governments will help deliver projects in communities like Tumbler Ridge.
“That means more homes people can afford, better services, and more good job opportunities,” Eby said.
Old school to be torn down
On Feb. 10, Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old former student at the school, shot and killed her mother and sibling at their home. She then walked to the high school and opened fire, killing five young students and a teacher’s aide before shooting herself.
In May, School District 59 announced plans to demolish Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
At the time, the premier said the district had made the decision to replace the old secondary school with a new facility at a new location in the community.
Eby further pledged that neither the province nor Ottawa would be diverting education funds from other communities to pay for Tumbler Ridge’s new school.
Community Health Centre renovations
While the new school is the most significant local project, the plan also includes renovations to the community’s health centre, tied to a wider push to modernize hospitals, emergency rooms and urgent care facilities across the province.
Federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson said the investment supports both housing growth and the infrastructure needed to sustain it.
“At the same time, we’re investing in critical infrastructure to support growing communities,” he said.
For Tumbler Ridge, the new secondary school is expected to be one of the most significant upgrades to local infrastructure in years, alongside health improvements aimed at supporting long-term growth in the community.