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Harry Balfour School (photo by Shaun Penner)
Education funding

Provincial funding will go to planning new Harry Balfour School

Nov 2, 2019 | 7:01 AM

The province has announced an investment for 25 new schools across Alberta, including one in Grande Prairie.

A portion of the province’s $397-million will go to replace the Harry Balfour School.

Superintendent of the Peace Wapiti School Division, Bob Stewart, says the funding will be used to design the new school. “Which will aid Peace Wapiti for the preparation work for the actual school site, as well as the school itself, over by Five Mile Hall.

The new school will be built just outside of the city limits, which Stewart says is good news, as it will mean less school buses running through the city, and less travel time for many students.

The province hasn’t yet announced how the money will be divided, how much the Peace Wapiti School Division will receive, or when they will see that money.

Stewart adds the Peace Wapiti School Division owns the property where the current Harry Balfour school stands, and it’s up to the Ministry of Education whether the old school should be repurposed or torn down.

Included in the list of schools to receive funding is École des Quatre-Vents in Peace River, which will also be fully replaced.