We line up at the gate of the construction site like weB次元官网网址檙e at Swartz Bay and the ferry is late. A pleasant smiling lady in a hard hat and safety vest approaches and I roll my window down.

B次元官网网址淗i there,B次元官网网址� she says.

B次元官网网址淗ello,B次元官网网址� I reply. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 Mike from the Gazette."

B次元官网网址淥h, hi! IB次元官网网址檓 ,B次元官网网址� she says excitedly, extending a hand. I reach across and take it. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just waiting for a few more minutes and weB次元官网网址檒l all head in together.B次元官网网址� She smiles.

ItB次元官网网址檚 my first official tour of the soon-to-be-completed B次元官网网址� though you wouldnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily guess that to look at it B次元官网网址� Royal Bay secondary, due to open this fall.

Once the line-up of cars begins to move, we all find parking spots in what may or may not end up being a parking lot B次元官网网址� I was never really clear on where those aspects of the project would be located, but it was next to one of the sports fields on the north side of the building.

We file out of our cars B次元官网网址� those few of us who didnB次元官网网址檛 bring our own are given our own hard hats and safety vests B次元官网网址� and gather in front of the door. I count municipal politicians from at least three councils in the region, five or more Sooke School District trustees, a couple of SD62 administrators, a few members of the media, one leader of the provincial New Democratic Party B次元官网网址� otherwise known as Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan B次元官网网址� and one City of Colwood communications person. Maybe 25 of us funnel in behind Beadall as she starts the tour, asking us to please stay together.

The smell of sawdust and paint hang thick in the air, but it doesnB次元官网网址檛 take away from the immenseness and grandiosity that will be the finished product.

Beadall takes the group up the central staircase and out onto the roof where basketball courts are being poured, then back inside to see both gymnasiums, the culinary arts kitchen, the administrative spaces and everything else that will make Royal Bay what it will become.

Like the wing.

Two large rooms with garage doors that will open out to the sports fields will soon be home to the schoolB次元官网网址檚 choral and music programs. B次元官网网址淗opefully we can open those doors and be serenaded out in the fields,B次元官网网址� Beadall says, smiling, before she leads us into the theatre, which will rival most IB次元官网网址檝e ever seen.

With extensive seating, an actual orchestra pit in front of the stage and a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system being installed, itB次元官网网址檚 fair to say that Royal Bay is likely to become one of the go-to locales for live performance on the West Shore in the near future.

Another highlight of the tour is the explanation of the colour-coding aspect of the building, which sees each area B次元官网网址� academic, , arts and athletics B次元官网网址� painted a different colour, mirroring the colours of an Emily Carr piece that was donated to the school.

B次元官网网址淲e had to change the blue a bit and make it bit more purple-y,B次元官网网址� Beadall says, laughing, B次元官网网址渢o match our team colours.B次元官网网址�

Sandra Russell, communications manager for the City of Colwood, later pointed out that Royal Bay is not merely a school, but a community-centric facility.

B次元官网网址淎part from the amazing architecture that takes full advantage of the breathtaking waterfront location, the school is uniquely designed to promote interaction with the community,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淢ost schools are rarely visited by anyone other than staff, students and occasionally their families, and sit unused outside of school hours. At Royal Bay, the Neighbourhood Learning Centre will invite people of all ages into the school for West Shore Parks and Recreation programs and a daycare space. The track and sports fields will have an outdoor club house for community sports, the theatre will host performances and presentations, the large gym is glass-walled to invite people into sporting events, and the trades and commercial cooking programs will connect students with community apprenticeships.B次元官网网址�

And best of all B次元官网网址� from some peopleB次元官网网址檚 point of view, anyway B次元官网网址� the facility is still on time and under budget, according to SD62 superintendent Jim Cambridge.

Watch the Gazette for the date of the official open house, where the public will be invited to see the finished product.

mdavies@goldstreamgazette.com