Almost exactly one year to the day after work began on Southern Brandon's planned new K-8 school, construction was forced to a stop on Monday in light of bankruptcy filed by the contractor responsible for the project, the Brandon Sun reported Monday evening.
According to a February, 15, 2019 notice from the Brandon School Division the tender for the 65,660 square foot Maryland Park School was unanimously awarded to Winnipeg-based Fresh Projects as the low bid for the amount of $22,679,187 plus GST. Included in the amount is approximately $10 million in work sub-contracted to local contractors in areas including electrical, mechanical and roofing.
Construction began soon thereafter in late February 2019 and was followed by an official sod turning ceremony in the Spring.
On Tuesday morning, Brandon School Division Secretary-Treasurer Denis Labossiere issued a statement confirming the Monday halt in construction:
"Due to matters related to the general contractor, Fresh Projects, construction of the Maryland Park School has been stopped effective March 2.
Brandon School Division will be working very closely with Manitoba Education, Legal Counsel, Architects and the bonding company over the course of the next several weeks to develop a revised construction schedule.
Brandon School Division is concerned for the former staff of Fresh Projects as well as the sub-trades and suppliers involved in this project and will be coordinating a meeting of all parties in the very near future."
-Brandon School Division Secretary-Treasurer Denis Labossiere
As recently as mid-February 2020, BSD media releases sent out relating to developments at the school had focused on an opening in September of this year in time for the 2020-2021 school year. Though no statement has been made of any change in the planned September completion date at present, this week's developments put that timeline into the spotlight.
Local discussion and reaction took place in the attached eBrandon discussion thread. Further details will be shared when known.
Maryland Park Schoolâs website is located at https://www.bsd.ca/OurSchools/marylandparkschool/Pages/default.aspx
Updated: March 3, 2020. 11:32AM. Added Brandon School Division Secretary-Treasurer statement