Some very well worn floors at Portage College's Lac La Biche campus are about to be replaced, thanks to $450,000 in capital maintenance and renewal funding from the Government of Alberta.
The Honourable Ray Danyluk, MLA for Lac La Biche-St. Paul was on hand to help announce the funding, which goes above and beyond the amount the institution has already received in basic maintenance funding.
"Portage College is more than a school," said Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, Greg Weadick. "It's part of the community - a place where people can come together, learn together and grow together. It needs to be inviting, comfortable and safe. That's why I'm proud that our government is investing in renewal projects like this one."
The flooring on the lower level was replaced in 2008. This new funding will help replace the flooring on the main floor of the campus, which includes the hallways, service areas and all classrooms.
"These welcome dollars will be spent to replace worn out carpeting, and will give us the opportunity to put down something that is less costly to maintain," said Karen Hibbs, Director of Infrastructure and IT at Portage College.
She added that the new flooring would also be matched up to the look of the new foyer currently being completed at Portage College. This renovation was possible due to the savings achieved from the recent renovation of the McGrane Theatre. The theatre project was assessed at the cost of $900,000. With careful budgeting and specialized contractors and staff, the actual cost was $375,000. Ultimately, the savings paid for the foyer renovations, said Hibbs.
"There's lots of work happening now, and more is coming in the future. Students deserve the best facility we can provide them," said Hibbs.
