Surrey schools to gain major boost in student seats
Surrey schools are preparing for one of the largest expansions in years, with 2,300 new student seats now under construction. Provincial leaders, local MLAs, and Surrey school district officials gathered at Woodland Park Elementary to announce the upgrades, underscoring how quickly the city’s classrooms are adapting to rapid growth.
New modular classrooms lead the way
At Woodland Park Elementary, a 400-seat modular addition is set to open this fall. Principal Lisa Chambers called the project “an exciting milestone” that brings opportunity and growth for students. The school board’s chair, Gary Tymoschuk, highlighted the challenges of the build, noting that teams delivered 16 classrooms on a difficult site within just 18 months.
Surrey’s rapid growth fuels urgent demand
Parliamentary secretary Garry Begg emphasized that Surrey has not slowed down during the summer, with seven additions underway and over 700 new seats ready this fall alone. He noted Surrey’s population has surged by 34 percent in recent years, making it one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Canada.
Long-term classroom expansions in motion
B.C.’s infrastructure minister Bowinn Ma announced several key projects. Woodland Park’s 400 seats, Walnut Grove’s 100, and Theresa Clarke’s 225 will be ready this year. Kwantlen Park Elementary will add 500 seats by 2027, with more expansions planned at Martha Currie, Old Yale Road, Latimer Road, William Watson, George Greenway, and Guildford Park Secondary.
Ma stressed that portables are only temporary fixes. “When it comes to delivering proper classrooms with facilities, ventilation, and accessibility, these permanent expansions are the real solution,” she said.
New hybrid learning model for older students
School board chair Tymoschuk also introduced a hybrid learning pilot for Grades 10 to 12. Some students will now combine in-person classes with online platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. While not suitable for every student, Tymoschuk said parents welcome the move as it prepares teens for digital learning environments.
Population boom adds pressure
Minister Ma warned that B.C.’s population grew by nearly 200,000 between June 2023 and June 2024. For every 10,000 new residents, the province requires 51 classrooms, 18 hospital beds, 4,000 homes, and expanded transit. That demand, she noted, has repeated roughly every 19 days during the past year.
Stay tuned to Surrey Speak for more local education updates and infrastructure news shaping Surrey’s future.
