New school opens for Maple Ridge school year

A new Eric Langton Elementary opened in Maple Ridge on Tuesday, Sept. 8, following the first day of classes. Education and Child Care Minister and Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Lisa Beare attended the ceremony with SD42 superintendent Teresa Downs, board chair Elaine Yamamoto, principal Kyla Cameron and Katzie First Nation representatives.

The school on Edge Street, just north of 121 Avenue, has capacity for 680 students. Its design process began in March 2023, and the $46.5-million project was funded by the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District and the province. The building also includes a neighbourhood learning centre and child-care facility.

Katzie artist Rain Pierre designed the school logo and architectural features. He said its osprey image represents a protector of the river, with water swirls representing the Pitt River, three drops representing the past, present and future, and four wing tips representing the seasons.

Beare called schools community hubs and said children should feel safe, welcome and included. Cameron said meaningful acts of reconciliation were woven into the building’s design. The former school building is still being demolished.

Twenty-three new and improved schools are opening this September, including two in Maple Ridge that create 875 student spaces. The Eric Langton seismic replacement and expansion added 215 seats, while an addition at Golden Ears Elementary added 195. SD42 serves about 17,000 learners in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.