Emotions were intense on Wednesday evening when the Vancouver School Board officially made the decision to close the city’s oldest school building. Sir Guy Carleton Elementary, situated on Kingsway near Joyce Street, has faced closure due to safety concerns after a fire in 2016 left the school severely damaged. Despite efforts to restore the 129-year-old school, the lack of funding from the provincial government has led to its closure.
The board also approved a change in the school’s catchment area for 2023, allowing students to be accommodated in other schools. The estimated costs for restoration and seismic upgrades reached around $36 million in 2019, a figure that could have doubled based on current similar projects.
Although Trustee Suzie Mah made a motion to postpone the decision and seek additional funding for restoration, the vote proceeded with no secured funding and confidence in the capacity of surrounding schools to accommodate the displaced students.
For former student Linden Wong, who experienced the fire at the school, the closure marks the end of a cherished chapter in his childhood. Others, like ex-Board Trustee Patti Bacchus, see the decision as short-sighted and detrimental to future generations’ needs for school facilities.
While acknowledging the community’s concerns, School Board Chair Victoria Jung emphasized the focus on students rather than the building itself. With the fate of Sir Guy Carleton Elementary sealed, the VSB will now explore alternative uses for the facility and its land.