Signage has been installed on the new addition portion of Ecole Hammond Bay school. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Ecole Hammond Bay

Expansion complete at in-demand north Nanaimo French Immersion school

Jun 15, 2023 | 2:24 PM

NANAIMO — Following prolonged construction delays, crews have at last completed a substantial addition to an over-capacity French immersion school in Nanaimo.

School district 68 officials are expecting an occupancy permit from the City of Nanaimo any day now for the newly expanded Ecole Hammond Bay Elementary School.

Secretary-treasurer Mark Walsh told a Wednesday, June 14 business committee meeting that the five portables on the property will be relocated to other sites.

“We’re so close to the end of the year that there’s no way we’re going to move kids out of portables into their new classrooms during this school year, which puts our portable moves even further back,” Walsh said.

He noted the City requires building permits for the relocation of portables, which will delay the five portables from benefiting other school sites.

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Establishing 12 new rooms, including a multi-purpose space at Ecole Hammond Bay school was well behind schedule.

District 68 officials weren’t relying on the new classrooms this school year, Walsh told trustees.

“We had to do a bit of mix and matching this year, but generally the impact has not been significant.”

The project is within the nearly $16 million budget, Walsh confirmed.

Parking lot improvements are included in enhancements of Ecole Hammond Bay Elementary School (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Enhancing the size of Ecole Hammond Bay Elementary School was approved by the province in 2018, which originally called for expanding its size from nine to 15 classrooms.

Most of the capital costs are being covered by the province, which announced it was doubling the scope of the project in 2019.

Construction didn’t get started until February 2021, while the province earlier envisioned the expansion would open in time for the 2021/22 school year.

Ecole Hammond Bay school is currently home to about 375 students, while the expansion will create room for nearly 300 additional student spaces.

According to the district, 10 new classrooms, a kindergarten room, a special education room and a new multi-purpose space have been added to Hammond Bay.

Parking lot enhancements and improved accessibility features are now also established at the school.

In January 2019 an expanded gymnasium opened at Hammond Bay school.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes