Kitsilano Secondary School

Kitsilano Secondary School

Fiat Lux
Let there be light
Address
2706 Trafalgar Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6K 2J6
Canada
Coordinates 49°15′45″N 123°9′49″W / 49.26250°N 123.16361°W / 49.26250; -123.16361Coordinates: 49°15′45″N 123°9′49″W / 49.26250°N 123.16361°W / 49.26250; -123.16361
Information
School type Secondary School
Founded 1927
School board School District 39 Vancouver
Superintendent Scott Robinson
Director Magdalena Kassis (Director of Instruction)
Principal Jim Burnham
Grades 8-12
Enrollment 1516[1] (September 2009)
Language English, French
Colour(s) Royal Blue and Gold         
Mascot Demons
Team name Blue Demons
Website go.vsb.bc.ca/schools/kitsilano/Pages/default.aspx

Kitsilano Secondary School is a public secondary school in the Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The school has several district programs including French immersion and on-site pre-employment. Advanced Placement courses are also offered.

The School

The students selected royal blue and gold as the school colours, based on those at Aberdeen University (the Alma Mater of one of their teachers); the first Latin classes chose "Fiat Lux" (Let there be light) as the school motto. The original school crest was designed by Mr. S. P. Judge, the first art teacher at Kitsilano, and although the crest has undergone some slight changes over the decades, it still proudly displays the colours and motto.

The school is particularly well known for the numerous television and film productions which have been filmed on location. Most recently, Juno, Superbad, Anything for Love and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" were shot at Kitsilano. The school also counts a number of former alumni who went on to careers in film and television, notably Ryan Reynolds and Joshua Jackson.

The school song "Hail Kitsilano"[2] was composed in 1936 by Mr. Ivor Parfitt.[3]

The main foyer is home to a portrait of Chief August Jack Khatsahlano, the school's namesake. The auditorium houses a Tanu totem pole, carved by Don Yeomans in 1986 in honour of Vancouver's centennial anniversary.

Kits Sports

In addition to its distinguished academic record, Kitsilano has been highly successful in a number of sports, most prominently, basketball, rugby, soccer, ice-hockey, and cheer. It won provincial basketball championships in 1997, were the City and District Champions and went to the Provincial finals in 1977, and more recently the HSBC Vancouver basketball tournament in 2007.

History and facilities

Kitsilano Secondary School was founded in 1917, when overflow classes from King Edward High School were moved to Cecil Rhodes School. The first temporary wooden structures for the new school were built in 1920 at Trafalgar and 12th Avenue. The current building was designed by Vancouver VSB staff architect Frank A.A. Barrs and opened in 1927. In 1958, a Modernist-style addition designed by school architect Allan B. Wilson was added to the south side of the original building. In 1973 a single storey concrete structure was added on the southeast corner of the site.[4][5]

In 2010 the school board approved a concept plan for the seismic upgrades to the facility. In October 2011 the provincial government announced a $57.8 million restoration project that will include seismic upgrades and new construction meeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Standards.[6] In 2012 three design-build partners, each comprising a general contractor and an architectural firm, were shortlisted for the project. In August 2013 it was announced that the Bouygues Building Canada team were selected to design and build the renovation and expansion.[7][8][9]

Construction began on the south east corner in 2014. This involved the removal of the tennis and volleyball courts. The new academic wing was completed in the summer of 2015.

Incidents

On April 5, 2013 students, parents and staff were informed that an incident involving two students and a staff member may have occurred during a school trip two years earlier. The teacher involved is currently on paid leave from the school and under serious police investigation. Neither the Vancouver School Board or Vancouver Police Department will discuss the specifics of the allegations. No charges have been filed and the investigation is still in its early stages.[10][11]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "School Information". B.C. Ministry of Education (2009-09-30). Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
  2. ↑ "Home".
  3. ↑ School history webpage. Retrieved 2-13-01-05
  4. ↑ School history webpage. Retrieved 2013-01-05
  5. ↑ Heritage Vancouver, 2010 Top Ten Endangered Sites. Retrieved 2013-01-05
  6. ↑ Kitsilano Secondary School Renewal: Partnerships BC webpage. Retrieved 2013-01-05
  7. ↑ VSB school renewal plan. Retrieved 2013-01-05
  8. ↑ VSB information bulletin 2012-08-17: Kitsilano Secondary School Renewal, shortlist. Retrieved 2013-01-05
  9. ↑ School Board press release August 27, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-04
  10. ↑ Judd, Amy (5 April 2013). "Vancouver Police investigating Kitsilano Secondary School teacher". Global News. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  11. ↑ CRAWFORD, TIFFANY (5 April 2013). "Teacher under investigation at Kitsilano Secondary School". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
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