Capital planning is a strategic process enabling the Vancouver School District to maintain its existing facilities and move towards its long-term goals by building new schools, replacing or upgrading or expanding existing schools. The focus of the annual capital plan prioritization process is to support education programming opportunities, enable students to attend their catchment school, and ensure all students attend seismically safe schools. Additional information and resources can be found at the Ministry website.

What programs are part of the Annual Capital Plan submission to the Ministry?

Major Programs

Major capital programs are large, complex projects spanning multiple years. School districts must submit a business case and potentially a concept plan before funding is considered for major projects, and approvals for these large projects follow multiple stages. Project requests put forward by the VSB have generally been through the Seismic Mitigation Program (SMP) and the School Expansion Program (EXP) funding streams.  

Seismic Mitigation Program (SMP): 
There is an active seismic enhancement project at Grenfell Elementary, which is expected to be completed prior to the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

School Expansion Program (EXP)
The Ministry of Education’s priority for expanding school space is to areas experiencing consistent and rapid, high density population growth due to economic development and where space optimization has been demonstrated. Further details on the School Expansion Program can be found at the Ministry website.

Current EXP Projects:

cəw̓as Ch’elxwá7elch Skwuláw̓txw Seaside

cəw̓as Ch’elxwá7elch Skwuláw̓txw Seaside is completing construction and is expected to receive students for the 2026-2027 school year. Within the lower three levels of the mixed-use building, the school will include capacity for 340 students. There will be a childcare facility on the fourth level and the remaining levels will be dedicated to social housing.

New Elementary School at Olympic Village

The commitment by the Provincial Government to build an elementary school in Olympic Village provides a pathway to a long-term resolution to some of the enrolment challenges in nearby schools which are in the Hamber family of schools and Kitsilano family of schools as noted the LRFP.

New Elementary School at the Lord Roberts Annex

A new elementary school at the Lord Roberts Annex site is a project which has been included in the District's 5-year Capital Plan.

More information on Major Capital Programs can be found here

Minor Programs

Minor capital programs are smaller in scale and shorter in duration than Major Programs. Funding for Minor Programs generally supports the maintenance of school sites for the upcoming school year.

• School Enhancement Program (SEP)
• Building Envelope Program (BEP)
• Carbon Neutral Capital Program (CNCP)
• Playground Equipment Program (PEP)
• Annual Facility Grant (AFG)
• Food Infrastructure Program (FIP)

More information on Minor Capital Programs can be found here