Vernon Matters file photo

By Liam Verster

PVSS Gym Replacement

Armstrong high school receives funding for new gymnasium

Jul 6, 2022 | 10:50 AM

Pleasant Valley Secondary School (PVSS) will begetting a new gymnasium thanks to some provincial funding.

The B.C. government is providing the Armstrong school with $15.2 million to construct the gym, which will meet LEED Gold standards, include energy-efficient design, and be constructed using non-combustible exterior materials to make the building more climate resilient and better able to withstand a wildfire.

School District 83 is contributing $615,000 for the replacement project.

“The board is very pleased that the PVSS gym replacement is being prioritized by the Ministry of Education and Child Care,” said Tennile Lachmuch, vice-chair of the board of education for School District 83.

The gym was deemed unsafe and closed in 2021 after structural damage was discovered.

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When school is in session, students are bused to nearby city-owned facilities for physical education classes and other nearby school gyms for team sports.

“The closure of the gym has been a loss for both students and the broader community, as school gyms play an important role in rural communities,” Lachmuch added. “The board is very grateful to the City of Armstrong and the Township of Spallumcheen for providing alternative indoor spaces for students during the closure. It will be a day of celebration to have students from Armstrong, Spallumcheen and Falkland return to an innovative and modern gym. We appreciate the ministry’s support of this renewed physical literacy learning space.”

The old gymnasium will be demolished over the summer and construction will begin in winter 2023, with the goal of having the new venue ready for students in winter 2024.

Once open, the new gym will also be available for use by the larger community as a gathering place for sports teams, First Nations groups and other organizations.