Kitsilano Elementary School

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Kitsilano is home to some of the earliest schools to be established in Vancouver,

These elementary schools, with their British colonial names reveal the history and bias of the culture of the people who first built this city. Times have changed, but the old school buildings remain active, populated and well-used; they are part of the historic atmosphere of life in the Kitsilano neighbourhood.

One of the first schools in Vancouver is Henry Hudson Elementary, established in 1911 and still located at 1551 Cypress Street (on Cypress and Cornwall). It was named after the arctic explorer who also gave his name to Hudson Bay, and to the Hudson’s Bay Company (now HBC) the cross-Canada department store chain that grew out of the original fur-trade. The original 8-room school that became Henry Hudson Elementary was built in 1911-1912 at the cost of $48,000. Kitsilano’s population was expanding, and the school was overcrowded within a year, so an additional eight rooms were opened in January, 1914. Since then, a gymnasium building was also added in 1950.

Further west, General Gordon Elementary School was opened in 1912. Originally named for a British General killed in Khartoum in 1885, the school’s name has been shortened and is now simply known as Gordon Elementary.  Now there is emphasis on social responsibility and literacy, and the school offers late French immersion program for grades 6 and 7. Still in the original building, the school is located at 2896 W. 6th. The photo doesn’t do the school justice, and here’s an example of what they are doing now. The school’s “Green Again” project has involved the entire community. An active Greening Committee of parents, staff and children have coordinated community and school board resources to build a butterfly garden, grass covered berms, large tree plantings, concrete picnic tables, a shade garden, and a wonderful circle of pavers. Weekend work parties, student plantings and large construction work by the school board are ongoing as they redefine the meaning of “schoolyard”.

Lord Tennyson Elementary School at 1936 W. 10th, was also opened in 1912. Named after the 19th century Poet Laureate of England, the school now offers full French immersion for elementary grades, and has very strong parent involvement. The classic historic school building is now surrounded by a park-like playground, as you can see in the photo above.

In the early part of the 20th century, Kitsilano was growing at a tremendous rate, and still more schools were needed. What is now Bayview Community School, at 2251 Collingwood Street, was founded a few years later, in 1914. In a lovely location, this school has become a full community school of children, staff, parents, volunteers, community members and outside agencies. They who come together to provide a safe, caring, mutually respectful, challenging and welcoming educational environment.

In the days these schools were originally established, there wasn’t the multicultural diversity, French immersion or broad educational values that the Kitsilano elementary schools feature today. Now these historical buildings house elementary students who are encouraged to develop not only their intellectual potential but also the physical, social, emotional and aesthetic potentials as well.