NORTH VANCOUVER – BC New Democrat MLA Susie Chant says students at Blueridge Elementary will soon be playing and exploring on a new universally-accessible playground, thanks to $200,000 in provincial funding for North Vancouver School District.

“Accessible spaces reflect the values of a community and the importance of equality, ” said Susie Chant, MLA for North Vancouver–Seymour. “By investing in a playground designed for all abilities, we’re ensuring that every child at Blueridge Elementary has the opportunity to explore, take part, and build confidence in a space that welcomes them.”

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 North Vancouver School District, new accessible playgrounds were recently funded at Seymour Heights Elementary in 2025, and Brooksbank Elementary in 2022.

Since 2017, our government has committed over $230 million to create over 1,030 new student seats and 3,150 seismically safe seats in North Vancouver, and has approved over $51 million in minor capital funding in North Vancouver to maintain existing school district infrastructure (roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, etc.).