School District 43 will be reimbursed more than $135,000 for recently purchased playground equipment at four elementary schools.

The funds come from a provincial government initiative to return $2.4 million for adventure-style playground equipment bought between Jan. 1, 2011, and Sept. 2, 2011, with money raised by parent advisory councils (PACs).

After the school district receives the Ministry of Education funds, it will distribute the money to the PACs at four elementary schools: Anmore ($50,000), Bramblewood ($28,711), Leigh ($29,861) and Mary Hill ($26,748).

Each PAC was eligible to receive up to $50,000, depending on how much they contributed to the school's playground project.

Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Douglas Horne was pleased with the announcement.

"School playgrounds give our elementary students places to run, climb and play," Horne said in a press release.

"They also help to instill a love of physical activity in our children, which helps lay the foundation for healthy choices in the future."

Education Minister George Abbott expressed his appreciation for ongoing parental support at schools.

"Parent advisory councils work hard throughout the school year to raise money to support students and their learning, and it's great to be able to give back some of their hard-earned dollars," Abbott said in a press release. "PACs can use these funds for a wide range of initiatives, including enhancing their current playgrounds or purchasing additional equipment to make them accessible to students with disabilities."

In September, the Ministry of Education also announced that provincial funding of $50,000 each would be provided for new playgrounds at Citadel, Como Lake, Kwayhquitlum and Maillard middle schools.

In total, the province will provide $8 million over two years for new playgrounds, reimbursements, upgrades, repairs and replacements at schools across B.C.

jmcfee@thenownews.com

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