The official opening of the new gym at Summerland Secondary School will take place on Nov. 13.

Work on the new gym began in June, 2023 and the final work is now being completed.

In 2020, the Okanagan Skaha School District committed $10.5 million for the gym replacement. Construction work was originally scheduled to begin in the fall of 2021, but the date was delayed because of issues identified through preliminary work.

Alan Stel, principal of Summerland Secondary School, said the heavy work, such as excavation and moving of gravel, was done during the summer months. The construction of the building did not have any significant effects on the day-to-day operations of the school.

Todd Manuel, superintendent of schools for the school district, said the project came in on budget, even though costs have increased since 2020. He said the construction team deserves credit for building the facility.

The new facility replaces the school鈥檚 present gym, which was constructed in 1951. That gym was not large enough for some regulation sports courts. 

Concerns had also been raised about the condition of the present gym. In the spring of 2013, Abhishek Lekhi, then a student at the school and a basketball player, circulated a petition asking for improvements to the gym. Manuel said replacing the gym has been identified as a need at the school for at least 20 years.

While the new gym will replace the present gym, the school will continue to use both spaces. 

Some reconfiguration work has been done to the older facility, allowing the school to use it for some gym activities.

The new facility is similar to other regular high school gyms in the province.

In addition to a regulation-sized playing area, the facility includes gender-neutral washrooms and change rooms, as well as a weight room.

Manuel is excited to see the gym now completed. The public response to the gym has also been positive, he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been something the school has needed for many years,鈥� he said.

This year, the high school has a student population of 550 students from Grade 8 to Grade 12. Next year, as Grade 7 students are added, the enrolment will increase to 650 students.

The official opening ceremony will be held on the morning of Nov. 13. 

That evening, a grand opening and fundraising event will be held at the gym from 6 to 8 p.m. This event will include a silent auction, varsity matches, half-time entertainment, a bake sale concession, facility tours and more.

The school鈥檚 new mascot will also be on display for the first time at this event.

Tickets for the fundraiser night are $20 and are available from the Summerland Secondary School front office. 

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards enhancing the sound system and installing outdoor basketball hoops at the school.