Ventilation upgrades will ensure students and staff breathe clean air in eight schools across British Columbia, after an investment of $4.2 million from the federal and provincial governments.
Announced by Minister Sean Fraser and Minister Rachna Singh, these improvements will optimize ventilation and air filtration in schools.
“We are proud to support these eight projects, and will always back investments like this one that enable people to send their kids to school knowing they are safe and comfortable,” said The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
In Victoria, funding will help replace aging air handling units and unit ventilators, increasing outdoor air intake at Doncaster Elementary School and Spencer Middle School. The middle school is also adding reheat coils to regulate temperatures and humidity for optimal comfort. The HVAC system controls will be upgraded to a direct digital control system for precise climactic zones throughout the school that can be automated and monitored.
“More school improvements like ventilation upgrades delivers on our commitment to support schools districts in maintaining schools where students are learning in safe, healthy environments,” said The Honourable Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care.
By continuing to work closely with partners across Canada, the federal government is ensuring that Canadians have access to safe spaces supported by infrastructure that promotes resilience and that can connect them to education, jobs, services, amenities, and their communities at large. One of the largest contributions is going to Spencer Middle School in Langford, where nearly $900,000 will be used to upgrade the school’s HVAC system. The upgrades will provide better ventilation and will allow the school to use a digital controls to manage the temperature and air in specific areas of the building.