December 7, 2011
No Monkeying Around: More Funding For School Playgrounds

SURREY –Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) at fourteen Surrey-area public schools are receiving a total of $347,025 in reimbursements for playground equipment.  The funding is part of $2.4 million to reimburse PACs throughout the province that recently purchased playground equipment for their kids with funds they raised.

The following schools in School District 36 (Surrey) will receive a playground reimbursement for their PACs:

  • Bear Creek Elementary ($22,508)
  • Cloverdale Traditional ($24,283)
  • Coyote Creek Elementary ($20,373)
  • Don Christian Elementary ($43,820)
  • East Kensington Elementary ($17,169)
  • J.T. Brown Elementary ($33,260)
  • James Ardiel Elementary ($14,888)
  • Laronde Elementary ($46,557)
  • Panorama Park Elementary ($9,016)
  • Prince Charles Elementary ($26,489)
  • Simon Cunningham Elementary ($38,951)
  • South Meridian Elementary ($7,253)
  • T.E. Scott Elementary ($18,290)
  • Woodward Hill Elementary ($24,168)

Why this matters:

  • This reimbursement recognizes PACs for their hard work and commitment to students.
  • This money is part of the $8-million over two years that Premier Christy Clark announced in September for new playgrounds, reimbursements, and playground upgrades, repairs and replacements.
  • School districts were asked to identify schools that had purchased adventure-style playground equipment using PAC-raised funds since January 1, 2011, which was eligible for reimbursement under this program.

Quotes:

“These playgrounds will help our children stay fit and have fun at school. Thank you to the PAC volunteers for helping make them a reality.”
- Surrey-Panorama MLA Stephanie Cadieux


“Playgrounds lay the foundation for healthy choices in the future, by instilling a love of physical activity today. Today’s funding recognizes the contribution of PAC volunteers to ensure Surrey Schools have safe and modern playground equipment.”
- Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Kevin Falcon

Quick Facts:

  • Based on school district input there are 102 public elementary and middle schools that are eligible to receive a reimbursement towards PAC playground contributions. This spans across 31 school districts.
  • Each PAC was eligible to receive up to a maximum of $50,000 depending on how much they contributed to the project.
  • School districts will be reimbursed directly by the Ministry of Education, and will be responsible for ensuring their PACs are reimbursed appropriately.
  • The first round of funding supported 40 new playgrounds for elementary and middle schools that were identified as not having a playground but wanting one, for a total of $2 million.
  • The final phase of the playground program will see approximately $3.6 million being distributed for high-priority playground upgrades, repairs and replacements.

Learn More:

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