Enhancements to Chambly Academy
The gym floor was finally installed and the glue dried just in time for the November 5th 2009 official opening and dedication. On hand were the Mayor of St. Lambert, Philippe Brunet, the Executive of Riverside School Board, the High School Governing Board, Teachers, Directors of the Alumni Association Board, and other special guests.
It has been a long wait made even longer, and a little frustrating, with the last minute drying problem encountered with the concrete slab. But all that is behind us and everyone is just ecstatic with the new facilities. The new mayor was a member of departing mayor Sean Finn's team and he worked hard on getting the land sale completed that generated the money needed for rehabilitation and new construction. Also part of that team and strong supporters of the land sale and development were Claude Trudeau and his wife Vivian Weir (Class of 1960). I was able to get a shot of them at the ceremonies. I've included a few other shots of people you might know and a picture or two of the gym actually being used by Chambly students.
Last, but not least, is the Alumni Garden. Although it has not been completed and landscaping will have to wait until next spring of 2010, we promise it will be ready when reunion week-end rolls around. If you haven't done so already, you can certainly help the cause with a donation.
- Harvey Carter C'60
Ribbon Cutting - Principal Mike Languay
and Vice Principal Deborah Angelus on right
Gordon Richardson C'60, Jack Anderson C'71 and Denis St. Pierre, Chairman of Chambly Academy Governing Board
Jazz Trio perform at official opening
Computer Corner of New Library
Jack Anderson and friends in New Library
New mayor Philippe Brunet, Vivian Weir Trudeau (1960) and Claude Trudeau
New Gym In Use
New Gym gets used By Chambly Academy students
This latest series of pictures was taken October 14, 2009. I was at the school to attend a Governing Board meeting which was held in the new library adjacent to the new gym. The very spacious new library is, for the most part, up and running with just a few more books to be put on shelves. On the other hand the gym still is a work in progress (although it is now very near completion) and scheduled to be available for use on October 25. The concrete slab never did reach its ideal moisture content (less than 5%) so the contractor decided to use a higher quality glue and start applying the floor now rather than wait for up to two more weeks of drying time. The new floor was brought in and laid out on the slab where it will remain for several days before final trimming and gluing takes place. This step allows the material to flatten out and avoids any distortions in the surface when it is permanently affixed. From the pictures you can see that the vinyl surface looks like a typical hardwood floor. It looks great and hopefully will live up to everyone's expectations.
Nothing new to show you from the Alumni Garden but it looks like we will be organizing a volunteer work crew in the next couple of weeks to get some of the initial clean-up and landscaping done before a landscaper is brought in.
Sept. 24 Tiffin St. side of new gym - I guess one could say there is good news and some deferred good news. While the new gym looks great the wait still goes on for the concrete slab to dry. As of last week the moisture content was still too high to apply the synthetic surface. In fact the readings actually went up slightly, although this may be attributed to the location where the readings were taken of just some imprecision in the instruments. I'm betting mid October before the floor is applied.
Support Services is located in the new wing at the front of the school and just to the west of the new gym.
New Support Services area. They are now up and running in completely new facilities which can only be classified as a vast improvement over their old digs. Richard Bunnett , a staff member who gave a lot of his time and energy to the 2005 Reunion is seen at his desk.
Applying sod at front of the new gym
Tiffin side of new gym looking towards Green Street
Back of school with one panel still to be installed
Looking towards Green Street from new gym
Front of school new Student Services Area
Cooking area in new cafeteria
New conference room just off library
New Cafeteria in use
More student services
New Library Shelves being assembled
There has been no progress on the Alumni Garden. Still waiting on the hiring of a landscaper and the contractor has some finishing work to perform. Hopefully next month. Harvey Carter reporting on September 24th.
New Gym facing Green Street
September 2nd was able to get some shots of the inside finished areas and the outside
However, because the gym is still under construction and won't be handed over to the school until near the end of September, I was not allowed inside. Apparently when school started teachers and students were parading through the work zone and the contractor was afraid someone would be hurt. A letter was sent to the school and school board banning any further visits. The pictures I did get of the new gym are from a week earlier when everyone was a little more relaxed. Looks like we'll have to wait until the next issue to see the fully finished product.
The only problem with the new gym is the time required for the concrete slab to dry. It has to be down to a certain moisture content level before the floor can be applied. When the contractor brought in drying equipment in mid-August to speed up the process, they found out there was no 600 volt power line in the immediate area. They had to wait for Hydro Quebec to run a new line. This probably set the opening back about a week.
The New Cafeteria
A new classroom
The New Library
Phys Ed teacher Paul Crow explaining the new cafeteria set up to incoming freshmen. Tom is the son of former Principal Paul Crow who many of you probably knew. You may have even been involved in the infamous bird seed incident, which by the way was after my time.
Back of Library
Back of new Gym
Cafeteria gets a face lift
Because of the Quebec construction holiday there hasn't been much change to the outside of the new facilities. The pictures I was able to get on August 10th show some progress, especially in the interior, but we will have to wait until the September newsletter for a full blown update. In fact, given that school starts in late August, the next series of pictures should show the finished product.
School's Front Hall filled with construction materials. Photos and captions by Harvey Carter C'60
Site of future Alumni Memorial Garden awaiting the landscaper which looks pretty much like those published in June. Principal Mike Languay advises that the landscaper has not yet been hired and until that happens there won't be a significant change
Front of the school
Back of the school
Front of the new gym
Eastern side of new gym
Interior of the new gym
Interior of the old gym being converted
For those living elsewhere don't forget that in Quebec all construction work stops for two weeks in the middle of July for summer holidays. There may be some progress before then and I'll get some pics but, after that, we are looking at early August before any new developments occur.
Harvey Carter C'60
The old library will be turned into a class room as will the eating area in the old cafeteria making room for 60 or more additional students at the school. The librarian told me she had to be completely packed by Friday, June 19th as demolition and renovations start on Monday the 22nd. Just this very small batch of books remianed when I was there on June 17th
The concrete patios in front of the new library and old gym have hardened and the forms have been removed. - June 16th
Most of the outside walls have been finished and are waiting for the windows to be installed. Perhaps they will postpone this part until the inside work is finished as breakage may a problem
The floor in the new gym has been poured and work continues on the ceiling and interior structure
It doesn't look like a library yet but, trust me, this is where it will be.
June 8 - Concrete slab in front of new library
June 8 - Concrete slab in front of old gym
There is still a lot of work to do in the Alumni Garden but, as of June 8 the concrete patios have been poured. The walkway between the new and old buildings still needs to be built and the sight needs a good clean up before final landscaping can begin.
May 19 - Looking through the gym and library into Alumni Garden
May 19 - The New Gym
May 19 - From the back of the school
May 28 - Alumni Garden
May 28 - Alumni Garden
Last week, May 28th work was just getting started on the Alumni Garden. I was able to get access to the space through the old gym. Looks like the concrete patios will be poured next week and then some of the landscaping can begin. As you can see they were able to save a few of the trees and bushes currently occupying the space. The appearance of the outside of the new addition hasn't changed very much but, the inside work is well under way. I was able to get into the front of the new gym to get the May 19th shots.
May 5 - Entry way to new addition
May 5 - From back of School
May 5 - Front view of new gym
May 5 - Looking West from Tiffin
Green street construction is still going smoothly. As of April 16, all the steel work on the new building's skeleton had been completed and the giant crane removed form the work site.
Harvey Carter, Class of 1960, has been taking these photos of the construction process. Next month he plans to include some of the Alumni Garden which has had a bit of work done.
Although it had not rained for over a week there was plenty of water in evidence, attesting to the areas former life as a swamp. I took a photo of one of the bigger puddles at the back of the school which had two mallard ducks swimming in it. When I got home I discovered the picture hadn't turned out so well but, if you look carefully, perhaps you can pick them out.
Apr. 16 - From back of school in the swamp
Apr. 16 - Looking west from Tiffin Avenue
At long last - construction begins
The hole is getting deeper
Concrete work underway
Lastest construction picture available - taken on March 23. Look for more in the May newsletter.
A beautiful March 20th day. Moira Bell and Michael Languay man the ceremonial shovel.
Denis St. Pierre, Chairman of the Chambly Academy Governing Board and Leslie Llewelyn, School Comissioner. Leslie has been fighting hard for many years to see the project get off the ground.
Bernie Praw and Pat Wagner have both been waiting 12 years for the work to start. Bernie as a former teacher and principal and Pat as parent and long time Governing Board member. You may also remember Pat from the 2005 Reunion - she was part of the organizing committee and probably sold some of you a tee-shirt or mug that weekend.
Moira Bell, Chairperson Riverside School Board Council of Commissioners says a few words to the group. Moira is another individual who has been it from the beginning, as a parent of Chambly students, School Commissioner and now Chairperson. She has been a strong voice of support for the Chambly Academy project (formerly CCHS project).
From the left, current principal Michael Languay, retired principal Andy Nardozza, current vice-principal Deborah Angelus and retired principal Bernie Praw.
From the left, Architect Frederic Leclerc, Pierre Farmer, Riverside School Board - Material Resources, Yvan Meunier, Riverside School Board and Mathieu Tramblay, Construction R.D.J. Inc. These are the people who will finally make it happen. Mike Languay has high praise for Frederic Leclerc who has been very helpful and supportive, even with all the last minute change requests and suggestions.