On February 10, the Honourable Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education, City of Beaumont Mayor Bill Daneluik joined Black Gold School Division (BGSD) Board Chair Devonna Klaassen and special guests for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new south wing at École Secondaire Beaumont Composite High School (ESBCHS).

“An incredible amount of hard work and dedication has gone into this project, and everyone who was involved can take great pride in it,” said Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange. “This project ensures that local students will continue to receive an education that enriches their lives, and prepares them for their future careers.”

“This project is yet another stellar example of the school division, the municipality, and the provincial government working together to efficiently and effectively create solutions to meet the ever-changing needs of this fast-growing community,” said BGSD Board Chair Devonna Klaassen. “Today, we are proud to be recognizing this latest development from a long-standing and mutually beneficial partnership.”

“Beaumont has a young and rapidly growing population and it is critical that our community has modern schools for our children to learn and grow,” said Mayor Bill Daneluik. “I congratulate our partners at the Black Gold School Division on the completion of this project, and thank the Alberta Government for investing in the future of our families and community.”

The ESBCHS modernization project began in 2019, and was successfully completed on time, on spec, and on budget in December 2021. The new south wing marks the first major upgrade to the school since 2002-2003, and includes 10 new classrooms, a new small gymnasium, and a new Band room that allow for much-needed room for growth.

In addition to the new wing, the project also encompassed significant renovations to the Foods, Cosmetology, Automotives and Fabrication labs, as well as upgrades to the existing fitness area and student change rooms to include a gender-neutral change room. The school is proud to provide its hard working employees with a renovated and refreshed staff room to recharge, relax, and connect with their colleagues.

School staff also took this opportunity to rebrand the school by modernizing their logo, which now honours the past and points them positively to the future. Also, they carefully developed core values to embody their approach as a learning team.

“On a related note, I gratefully acknowledge the contribution by the City of Beaumont to a new turf field on the adjacent park area to the south of the school, and the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for a planned field house, which is great news for both the Black Gold school community and the wider community,” said BGSD Superintendent of Schools Bill Romanchuk. “We are fortunate to have a long-standing, cooperative partnership with the City, and we look forward to strengthening our ties as we grow together.”