"We finally got our gym for W.C. Miller!" said Craig Smiley excitedly following an announcement Tuesday that the Province will help fund construction of a new gym at the Altona high school. "We are very pleased that this finally became reality, we've been working on this for a number of years now and today is the day," added Smiley who serves as Board Chair for Border Land School Division.

Education and Training minister Ian Wishart broke the big news during a visit to W.C. Miller Collegiate and said funding the project had initially been requested by the division a decade ago. The Manitoba government will provide a total 

"A school of this size without an adequate gym is not a common situation...there are some other rural ones that we're working towards getting done as well but this one was highest priority for this year," said Minister Wishart of $4.5 million for the project.

"We're pleased to provide that and it's something that the community will benefit from. Altona is a growing town and we want to make sure we have our share of the facilities in place," added Wishart.

Smiley added that Border Land School Division will contribute another $2 million for a total estimated project cost of about $6.5 million.

The new 12,918 square foot gym will be built on the south side of the school and will be roughly two-and-a-half times the size of the current 4,800 sq. ft. facility that carries an 18 ft. ceiling height. Plans include 6,500 square feet of new gymnasium space with a 24 ft. high ceiling plus 1,000 sq. ft. of adjacent gym space, additional change rooms, storage, office space and a 1,000 sq. ft. fitness room. There will also be a link built to connect the new facility to the school.

Wishart explained that when his department looked at the needs of schools across Manitoba, the gym at W.C. Miller certainly stuck out.

"A school of this size without an adequate gym is not a common situation...there are some other rural ones that we're working towards getting done as well but this one was highest priority for this year."

The minister added that community support was a big factor in the province's decision to help build the new gym, along with the Board's commitment to pitch in as well.
 
Tuesday's announcement saw teachers - and even some students - pull out of their summer vacations to hear the good news. Principal, Angela Pilkington, said the size of the new gym will be a big change and allow the school to host sports in a much bigger way.

"We're hoping to host more provincials and tournaments. This year we hosted the JV Girls provincials and we made it work but it will be much nicer when you can have fans and the court and players play safely."

Border Land School Division has issued a tender for the construction and work on the gym is expected to start in September and is expected to last about fifteen months.

This project is part of $92.4 million in planned capital spending by the province in the 2017-18 fiscal year for public school infrastructure projects.

The new 12,918 square foot gym will be built on the south side of the school and will be roughly two-and-a-half times the size of the current 4,800 sq. ft. facility that carries an 18 ft. ceiling height.