THUNDER BAY -- The influx of roughly 450 Churchill students will result in major renovations at Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
The renovations, which will largely take place on the wing of the building adjacent to Gordon Street, will include an 1,100 square-metre addition, largely centred around a new ‘cafetorium’ (cafeteria-auditorium), which will look nearly identical to the one at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
The Lakehead Public School Board will be closing Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute at the end of the current school year, leaving Westgate serving as the city's sole public south side high school.
A new kitchen, drama and music room, renovations to the tech room and various staff rooms, new staff parking, and a new student drop-off area will also be included in the project.
“We’re really excited to get going on this, and are looking forward to when the new students come over,” said capital project coordinator Mark Hakala.
The initial stages of the renovations are already underway, although general contractor has not yet been hired at this point.
Hakala says he expects the renovations to be completed by the start of the 2018 school year.
For current students, the construction will mostly be completed outside, and “shouldn’t affect our [current] students other than a little bit of noise,” Hakala said.
Hakala added that the existing structure would have been able to accommodate the former Churchill students, but the addition will help preserve the school and enhance the student experience.
“It will help us invest in the school and make things better for the kids,” he said.
The Ministry of Education has committed to $7 million in funding for the project.
