Unprecedented Growth Requires over 100 Million in New Campus Construction

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. A time to tear down and a time to build up  ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1,3b

Responding to unprecedented demands for Christian education, and a need to upgrade and expand aging facilities, over half of our SCSBC member schools throughout the province have entered a season of “tearing down and building up.” The following current and planned construction projects represent well over $100 million in renovation and new campus development.

• The Abbotsford Christian School Society recently voted 87% in favour of launching a $19 million campaign, with the majority of the funds directed towards a major renovation and expansion of their high school campus.
• Cedars Christian School in Prince George currently has ten portables on site and is developing a strategic plan for an eventual expansion of their PreK-12 campus.
• Duncan Christian School has seen exceptional growth the past few years and has responded with new portable classrooms and several campus renovations including plans for a new learning commons in their high school.
• Hope Lutheran Christian School in Port Coquitlam recently added several new classrooms to its elementary campus and is developing a strategic plan for its high school campus expansion.
• John Knox Christian School in Burnaby is currently undergoing a capital campaign feasibility study for a proposed $2 million campaign towards a new $14 million urban middle high school campus in partnership with Calvary Worship Centre in New Westminister.
• Langley Christian School is conducting a series of community meetings to develop a common vision for how best to respond to enrolment growth. Last summer, the school was able to secure a five-year lease on a modular school building that was reassembled on their elementary campus site.
• Maple Ridge Christian School successfully developed property adjacent to their school, placing them in a better financial position to make several campus upgrades and envision a future building expansion on their campus. Several portables on site and the need for more high school learning space are driving this vision.
• The Mount Cheam Christian School community in Chilliwack has already raised $2.94 million towards its $3.85 million building expansion and renovation. Their project is currently on time and on budget with a projected completion date of summer 2015.
• Northside Christian School in Vanderhoof recently completed a renovation reuniting its Kindergarten classroom with the main campus.
• The Pacific Christian School community in Victoria recently approved a $6 million campus renewal plan. Included in the plan are some elementary campus upgrades, a complete renovation of the high school science labs and a new $4 million campus gymnasium.
• Penticton Christian School recently formed a development committee to begin exploring how to make their phase two gymnasium expansion an eventual reality.
• In 2013, Powell River Christian School purchased a vacant public elementary school in a prime city location. The community has been busy renovating, painting and landscaping this amazing facility which still has several empty classrooms for future growth.
• Richmond Christian School opened their $2.1 million phase two high school expansion (7 classrooms and office space) this past fall to accommodate existing high school students. With a PreK-Grade 12 enrolment of over 1000 students and an extensive waiting pool, the school community envisions developing a long term campus plan on limited property space.
• Surrey Christian School recently announced the opening of a new satellite preschool site that will operate from the Hope Community Church facility currently being built in Surrey. The school’s new $5.5 million elementary campus site, which opened last spring, is already at capacity.
• Unity Christian School in Chilliwack completed a major $4.5 million building expansion less than two years ago. With an enrollment increase of over 100 students in the past two years, and waiting pools at most grade levels, the board is again discussing their next building phase.
• Valley Christian School in Mission moved into its new $2.5 million, two-story modular building last spring. Then, over the summer, modular classrooms to house three more classes were added to the site to accommodate additional growth.
• Vancouver Christian School has recently launched a $5 million capital campaign towards a complete demolition of its current aging elementary site to allow for construction of a new $21 million K-12 school site for over 800 students. The plan includes underground parking and a rooftop learning space.
• White Rock Christian Academy now owns the property the church/school is located on and has plans to eventually build a new $20 million K-12 campus for over 650 students. It currently has 13 portable classrooms on its site.

As the Society of Christian Schools in BC approaches its 40th anniversary year, it has been blessed with unparalleled growth, a cohesive community of schools committed to working together, several new school membership inquiries, and an expanding influence across the province, and globally. Along with the celebration of an increasing number of students receiving a Christian education comes greater responsibility and a greater need to keep the vision of Christian education alive.

In his book, The Cause of Christian Education, Richard Edlin maintains that “as much effort needs to go into keeping the vision alive as went into developing it in the first place.” Pray for our SCSBC staff team as they continue to provide discerning leadership in fulfilling SCSBC’s mission to strengthen Christian schools through service, community, advocacy and vision.