Can Seattle Solution Save Vancouver's Schools?

After the dust settles, the score could be Seattle 85 Vancouver 15 when it comes to the percentage of heritage schools saved during the impending wave of seismic upgrading that will sweep through our city.

But it does not have to be that way, if we follow Seattle's lead says Think Schools organizer Annabel Vaughan. When the Seattle School Board seismically upgraded its buildings they saved 85 per cent of the pre-1940 schools while at the same time increasing the building sizes by one third. In contrast, if the Vancouver School Board follows through with its current seismic upgrade plans, as little as 15 per cent of Vancouver's historic schools will be left standing.

On Sunday, April 6, Think City will host a day-long Think Schools conference to help create a new vision for Vancouver's schools. Keynote speaker Seattle School Board Building Excellence Capital Improvement Program Manager Don Gillmore will describe how his city came up with a $1.5 billion dollar school re-construction program.

Like Vancouver, Seattle faces similar seismic issues and has buildings that were built in the same era as many of the historic schools in this city. In response to these challenges, they created a program of new construction, historic restoration, seismic and infrastructure upgrading of schools. They also created dynamic partnerships with libraries, parks and recreation centres, and community groups to allow their schools to be used during off hours.

Vaughan hopes that by bringing politicians, parents, school staff and community activists together, we can collectively develop solutions to make sure our schools are maintained as vital centres in our communities, providing vital public space, safeguarding heritage, encouraging smart growth and much more for another 100 years.

To book your space at Think Schools, register in advance by clicking here. Childcare and full scholarships are available by calling 604.216.7246.