Penn-Co Construction wins $190M deal to build four new Manitoba schools, upgrade another

WINNIPEG—A Manitoba construction company has won a consolidated contract with several First Nations in the northern part of the province for work upgrading and building new schools.

Under the $190 million contract, Blumenort, Man.-based Penn-Co Construction Canada Ltd. will oversee work on four new schools in four separate communities, as well as renovate an existing elementary school. The federal government’s Indigenous Services Canada said it will provide $58 million of the funding, adding that the consolidated approach to procurement will reduce the overall cost of each school.

The new schools on the God’s Lake, Manto Sipi and Wasagamack first nations are designed to house students from kindergarten to grade 12. On the Bunibonibee Cree Nation, meanwhile, the contractor will build a new school for students in grades 7 through 12, as well as update a school for kindergarten to grade 6 students.

Combined, the schools will accommodate some 2,600 students.

Construction on the projects is scheduled to begin in Spring 2019.