Major renovations in the works for aging Westisle school in western P.E.I.

Millions of dollars in major renovations are being planned at Westisle Composite High School in Elmsdale, P.E.I., for the first time since it opened in 1979.

P.E.I.'s capital budget allocated $16.8 million over four years for the first phase of the top-to-bottom renovation project. 

"We'd been waiting for renovations to the building for a while and when we heard we were there, we were pretty pumped about it," said Westisle principal Brian Gard, who himself attended the school. 

Westisle opened in 1979 to replace three existing high schools in the area. It now serves all of West Prince: Tignish, Alberton, O'Leary, Tyne Valley and points in between. Just under 500 students attend the school.

Gard says the building is in fair shape, but is aging. There have been no major renovations to the school since it was built, except some ongoing repairs to the roof. 

"Come in this morning, there's a leak, found another leak," Gard said. "We're looking forward to some major renovations here where we put some of these [repair] guys out of work for a while."

A year of planning

Gard said some of the windows and doors are drafty, and the school has trouble with its heating and cooling systems —sometimes it's too hot, other times it's too cold.

"It's just getting to that point where it's ready for some serious upgrades," said Nathan MacLeod with the Public Schools Branch. 

Over the next year a planning committee will be formed to look at exact details, then tenders for design work can be called, followed by tenders for building contracts. 

Less distractions — the teachers can teach, and the students can learn, that's what we're looking for,— Brian Gard, Westisle principal

Ernie Hudson is P.E.I.'s transportation minister and the area's MLA. He's happy the government committed to the upgrades in the capital budget.

"That it is in black and white in the budget, that there is a timeline placed on it, that to me, and I think to staff here at Westisle, the community at large, it's very important to see that this commitment has been made," Hudson said.

'Take pride in the future'

Westisle is more than just an academic institution: it's also a community hub with a gym that's booked solid every weeknight and a 500-seat theatre that's expected to see more use once it's upgraded. 

"The community takes pride in this building… I know the community will be really excited about the renovations," Gard said. "It's something the community has taken pride in the past and we hope it'll have something that they can take pride in the future too."

Gard is already looking forward to the renovations being done.

"Less distractions — the teachers can teach, and the students can learn, that's what we're looking for." 

Officials hope the renovations will begin within a couple of years — the money is for five years, starting in 2026-2027. 

The Public Schools Branch said renovations will likely start in the wing of the school where the classrooms are, but that could change once a more concrete plan is in place.

The PSB said the plan is to renovate the school while continuing to teach, and they will try to make extra progress during holiday breaks.