LANGLEY ADVANCE TIMES – Modular classrooms will expand two of Langley’s newest elementary schools, including one that opened last September, B.C.’s Minister of Infrastructure announced on Tuesday. Bowinn Ma was in Langley on June 30 to announce 33 new classrooms, including one school upgrade and five new modular additions, to be built in communities around the province. Two of those will be in Langley. Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary, which opened in 2021, will get a modular addition providing 200 new student seats, and Josette Dandurand
Elementary, which opened in the fall of 2025, will get an addition with 100 new seats. In addition, Ma announced a 145-seat modular addition to Dormick Park Elementary in Abbotsford, a 200-seat addition to Black Mountain Elementary in Kelowna, and a 100-seat addition to Highlands Elementary in North Vancouver. Burns Lake’s Lakes Learning Centre will get a school replacement to address structural and accessibility issues. “Communities across the province, like Langley, continue to grow rapidly,” Ma said. “And this comes with the responsibility that we
take seriously, which is to make sure that the schools grow along with these communities giving every student student the space that they need to succeed and thrive.” The total budget for the additions and upgrades is close to $49.5 million. Ma was asked whether the two Langley schools getting upgrades had been under-built, as they’re receiving modular expansions so soon after opening. The minister said that the need for new school space was because of how desirable Langley was as a destination for young
families. Changes in federal immigration targets have reduced population growth more recently, “giving us a little bit of room to breathe,” she said. On whether other schools could see their plans upgraded – a new middle and secondary school are currently under construction in Langley – Ma said school districts submit capital plans yearly. “We are always assessing needs,” she said. Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma announced two more modular school additions for Langley elementary schools, as well as four other projects around B.C. pic.twitter.com/6EFGjPZ0tE —
Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) June 30, 2026 The province has increasingly turned to pre-fabricated modular additions to expand schools and replace some of the portables that have popped up in fast-growing communities around B.C. Modular construction has the advantage of being cheaper – previous Langley builds were about 30 per cent below the cost of a conventionally constructed addition – and much faster, with Langley’s recent modular classrooms being built in under a year. Ma spoke in front of Lynn Fripps Elementary, one of the
first schools in Langley to get a modular addition. Richard Bulpitt Elementary and Nicomekl Elementary also received modular additions in the last few years. – Matthew Claxton is a reporter with the Langley Advance Times ––—————————— Sign up for our newsletter Don’t miss out on reading the latest top stories from the Langley Advance Times. To receive daily news alerts and breaking news, right to your inbox, click on
Bowinn Ma, modular classrooms, Langley, Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary, Josette Dandurand Elementary, school expansion, pre-fabricated additions, B.C. education, Dormick Park Elementary, Black Mountain Elementary, Highlands Elementary, Lakes Learning Centre
Modular classrooms again? Feels like they’re always temporary.
So 33 more classrooms but are they actually permanent buildings or just trailers? My kid’s school is already cramped and it’s stressful. Hope this doesn’t turn into another “in two years maybe” situation.
This sounds like they built Donna Gabriel Robins and Josette Dandurand too small. Like why open a school in 2021 and then need 200 seats right away… that doesn’t add up to me. And “desirable Langley”?? sounds like politics talk.