22.47°C Vancouver

Jan 28, 2020 11:55 PM -

BC: Province confirms the acquisition of two more school sites

Share On
bc-province-confirms-the-acquisition-of-two-more-school-sites
Minister of Education, Rob Fleming, Mayor Doug McCallum and Surrey Board of Education Chair, Laurie Larsen/ Connect News

Surrey families and future residents will benefit as the Province confirms the acquisition of two more school sites.

Securing the sites will help with future planning, so schools can be built more quickly.

"Our government is acting now to make sure land is in place to build new schools for students, as Surrey's population continues to grow," said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education.

"These are forward-thinking investments that will be vital to getting more students out of portables and into the positive, engaging and inspiring classrooms that they deserve."

The Government of B.C. is providing $25.5 million for the Surrey School District to purchase a school site in the Redwood Heights neighbourhood.

The school district has also secured a school site for a new elementary school in the South Newton neighbourhood.

These land purchases are in addition to the land that was purchased for an elementary school in Sunnyside Heights last year.

New schools will be needed soon in Redwood Heights, South Newton and Sunnyside to accommodate new and existing developments that are adding thousands of new families to the communities.

"Today's announcement of new school sites for Surrey lines up with the Smart Development initiative my council colleagues and I have put in place for our city," said Doug McCallum, mayor of Surrey.

"It's no secret that for far too long, developments in Surrey were being approved without the essential infrastructure, such as schools, needed to support a new community.

With Smart Development, the City of Surrey has purchased property for parkland use that will complement the new school and any future development in the Redwood Heights neighbourhood."

"The Surrey School District is the largest and fastest-growing district in the province. Our student population has been steadily increasing every year," said Laurie Larsen, chair, Surrey Board of Education.

"We currently have almost 74,000 students, and we're projecting an additional 1,000 students for the next school year.

This type of growth requires strong partnerships with all levels of government.

Latest news

CanadaAug 26, 2026

41-Year-Old Punjabi Man Satwant Soni Sangha Killed in Downtown Toronto

A 41-year-old Punjabi man, Satwant “Sonny” Sangha, has been identified as the victim of a homicide in downtown Toronto. According to the Toronto Police Service, officers responded to a call about a sudden death at around 1:43 a.m. on August 21, 2026, in the area of McGill Street and Church Street. Police attended a residence where a male victim was found deceased.  An autopsy was later conducted, and signs of trauma were found on Sangha’s body. Following the autopsy findings, the death was classified as a homicide. Police have identified the victim as Satwant “Sonny” Sangha, 41, o
eby-urges-ottawa-to-consider-tougher-non-tariff-measures-in-u-s-trade-dispute
BCAug 26, 2026

Eby urges Ottawa to consider tougher non-tariff measures in U.S. trade dispute

B.C. Premier David Eby is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal government to consider measures beyond retaliatory tariffs in response to the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. Eby said Canada should consider stronger non-tariff measures and indicated B.C. could impose a surcharge on energy exports to the U.S. or restrict those exports if necessary. The premier also called on Ottawa to review its plan to purchase U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets. Eby argued that the current trade tensions should prompt a reassessment of the planned multibillion-dollar defence purchase. Eby also s
CanadaAug 25, 2026

Dingell Slams Trump Over Strained Canada-U.S. Relations, Urges Resumption of Talks

Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s policies amid worsening relations between Canada and the United States, saying it is an extremely disappointing time for the country when the president appears more comfortable strengthening ties with dictators than talking to one of America’s closest friends and allies. Dingell said Canada and the United States share the world’s longest international border and are connected by generations of friendship, family ties, democratic values and the geography of the Great Lakes. Her comments come
wildfire-threat-eases-in-b-c-as-major-fires-drop-to-just-three
BCAug 25, 2026

Wildfire Threat Eases in B.C. as Major Fires Drop to Just Three

According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, the Brunswick Creek wildfire in the Fraser Canyon area is no longer considered a wildfire of note, after the threat posed by the blaze eased. The fire has now been removed from the province’s wildfire-of-note list, leaving just three major wildfires in B.C. The agency said, however, that firefighters are still working to fully contain the fire on the west side of the Fraser River. Meanwhile, the Ansley Creek wildfire on the east side of the river remains out of control and is one of the three remaining major wildfires in the province. The Bald Range wi
BCAug 25, 2026

Drug Toxicity Crisis in B.C.: 138 Deaths Reported in June 2026

Suspected unregulated drug toxicity claimed 138 lives in British Columbia in June 2026, according to preliminary data from the BC Coroners Service. That works out to approximately 4.6 deaths per day. During the first six months of 2026, people between the ages of 30 and 59 accounted for 68% of all drug-toxicity deaths in the province, while 75% of those who died were male. The Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities recorded the highest numbers of unregulated drug deaths in 2026, with 206 and 200 deaths respectively. Together, they accounted for 52% of all such deaths in the province.

Related News