Five Rivers

Bonar Law Memorial School in Five Rivers, New Brunswick, is set to receive extensive mid-life upgrades including a large addition to its pre-existing campus.

The school, with 515 students, has seen enrolment growth of more than eight per cent annually over the last five years.

The project is expected to take seven years to complete at $31 million. The blueprint proposes an additional 33,314 square feet with three classrooms, a multi-purpose room, a workshop, a shared classroom, and a laboratory or study space. Other plans for resource rooms and offices are woven into the project.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027 or 2028, with completion by 2033. $1.3 million of the 2026-27 capital budget will be put towards the design process.

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Department of Transportation (DTI) and Infrastructure say that more people moving to the area has led to the investment in the nearly 50-year-old school.

“[Students] need facilities and resources to allow them to explore their options and develop their skills and competencies. Modernizing the school and creating more space for the growing number of students at Bonar Law will help students thrive and succeed,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson in a release.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson says he and the department are proud to help modernize facilities like Bonar Law.

“I look forward to working with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to ensure Bonar Law Memorial is a school that continues to meet the community’s needs for decades to come,” said Chiasson.

Dean Mutch, superintendent of Anglophone North School District, says the upgrade ensures the building remains a safe and inspiring place for students and staff.

“We truly believe that our rural and small community schools are critical, and they are worth investing in,” said Mutch.