This release was issued under a previous government.
The Alberta government will design and construct a new building in High River to replace the Provincial Building and Foothills School Division office which were both badly damaged by the 2013 flood. This new facility will be built with modern flood mitigation technologies on the site of the previous Provincial Building.
This will be the first major new development in downtown High River since the flood.
“We are excited to be an active part of High River’s recovery and redevelopment. This new building is an example of how our government is working with communities and community organizations across the province to rebuild in flood-affected areas.”
"We have been challenged by a lack of space in our High River facilities for several years now; a situation that was intensified by last June's flooding. In addition to the economic benefits of sharing a facility, the Division will be able to consolidate more of our staff in a larger, more efficient facility that better serves our needs."
This new centrally located facility will house provincial government services including fish and wildlife enforcement, child services, commercial vehicle enforcement and disaster recovery. The building will also host the Foothills School Division’s administrative offices, human resources, and Instructional Materials Centre.
Currently these offices and services are located in a variety of leased spaces with limited public access in both High River and surrounding communities.
“It’s great to be partnering with the Foothills School Division in this phase of High River’s recovery. I know the town will be happy to have government services and the school division return to the heart of the community.”
Demolition of the old High River Provincial Building will begin in the fall of 2014. The new facility, budgeted at $20 million, is scheduled to be completed in mid-2016.
Under the Building Alberta Plan, our government is investing in families and communities, living within our means, and opening new markets for Alberta's resources to ensure we're able to fund the services Albertans told us matter most to them. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for.