New $20 million makeover of Westmount Park Elementary School unveiled
Students and staff have returned to the historic Westmount Park Elementary School facility for the 2021-22 academic year. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Monday, November 15.
The 108-year-old facility at 15 Park Place had been closed for the last two academic years to complete a $20-million project of renovations and repairs. In the interim, students were based at the former St. John Bosco Elementary School in Ville Émard (Westmount Park South Campus) and Marymount Academy International in NDG (Westmount Park North Campus).
Westmount Park Elementary School has a rich history with the original structure built in 1913, an addition in 1919 and another one in 1921.
The refurbished facility has modern classrooms, including interactive SMART boards. There is also flexible seating options, a variety of learning spaces, dedicated music and science rooms and the addition of an elevator and an exterior ramp to make the building more accessible to everyone.
In an effort to maintain some of the building’s heritage, the auditorium has been restored with all of its beautiful woodwork while bringing the sprinkler system and emergency exits within that space up to date. The paint was refreshed, the benches repaired and new heating cabinets installed. This spot has been used in a number of motion pictures over the years.
In addition to benefiting from the English-Core program, students will also be able to benefit from energy stations that are set up throughout the building. This will allow students to leave class for a movement and/or brain break when needed. Stations will include stationary bikes, rowing machines, and sensory paths.
The major renovations at Westmount Park include, but are not limited to, roof, interior finishes, accessibility (elevator), mechanical (plumbing, CVAC, sprinklers), electrical (wiring, lights, telecom, fire alarm system, etc.) and exterior (additional accessibility ramp, public utility works, drainage system and foundation waterproofing). Not all of the work is completed at this time.
About the English Montreal School Board
With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, our network consists of 77 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.
