SURREY– BC New Democrat MLA Jessie Sunner says students at Georges Vanier Elementary will soon be playing and exploring on a new universally-accessible playground, thanks to $200,000 in provincial funding for Surrey School District.

“Every child deserves a place to play that is safe, welcoming, and accessible,” said Jessie Sunner, MLA for Surrey-Newton. “That’s why we’re investing in a new universally accessible playground at Georges Vanier Elementary that will ensure all students can participate fully and enjoy their time outside.”

Twenty-five schools in twenty-two school districts across BC will receive $200,000 to fund the construction of new accessible school playgrounds. This investment will help the school replace aging equipment with a modern, inclusive play space designed for children of all abilities.

Since 2018, the provincial government has invested $50 million towards the construction of over 332 new playgrounds, benefitting over 88,000 students throughout the province. Before 2018, Parent Advisory Councils were often responsible for raising the full cost of new playgrounds on their own. Today, dedicated provincial funding has eased that burden, helping ensure schools across B.C. can build modern, accessible playgrounds without relying on extensive parent fundraising.

In Surrey, new accessible playgrounds were recently funded at École Riverdale Elementary in 2022, Holly Elementary in 2023, Cindrich Elementary in 2024, and A H P Matthew Elementary in 2025.

The B.C. government has invested over $1 billion in building schools in Surrey, resulting in over 16,760 new student seats, and has approved over $177 million in minor capital funding in Surrey to maintain existing school district infrastructure (roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, etc.).