THUNDER BAY – A planned gymnasium expansion for École secondaire catholique de La Vérendrye has been cancelled because of construction costs.
The project, which was announced in October of last year, would have added a gymnasium to the Thunder Bay high school and included some renovations.
The planned funding amounted to $5.3 million, with support from the Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales and the Ministry of Education through the Canada-Ontario Immobilization Funding for Official Languages.
After a call for tenders for the project, the board decided to cancel the project as all the bids received well exceeded the budget.
"It is with deep disappointment that we announce this decision," said Claudette Gleeson, board chair, in a news release. "We recognize the importance of this project for our students and the entire Francophone community of Thunder Bay."
The board has explored alternative solutions but says “the financial gap proved insurmountable given the current economic context.”
The school board serves nine communities in Northwestern Ontario with nine elementary schools and two high schools.
