111 Year Old Schoolhouse Saved From Demolition

A Vancouver schoolhouse had been slated for demolition after being a neighborhood fixture since 1912. But a chance conversation ensued that not only saved the building, but also moved it to a new location where it could once again have a purpose. Glyn Lewis, who works with an organization called Renewal Home Development that was pushing for the schoolhouse to be repurposed, just happened to be chatting with an official from the Squamish nation in charge of capital projects.

The official, Bob Sokol, said the nation was in serious need of new infrastructure for community services and education. Lewis asked Sokol if he was interested in saving, relocating, and repurchasing this little yellow schoolhouse from Henry Hudson Elementary? Both men were excited about the idea and together, with the Vancouver School Board, they hatched a plan.

The little yellow schoolhouse was originally a trade school for kids, where they could learn skills like metalworking and carpentry. Lewis said “We confirmed that it’s in good condition. It’s 110 years old, but it’s got beautiful, first-growth beams in it, and a lot of the systems were upgraded in the last 15 years. It would have been a shame to demolish it.”

They had the building lifted from its plot in Kitsilano and floated it using a barge—in its entirety—to the North Shore where it will head to the Capilano Reserve. Once the building relocation is complete, the Nation will repurpose it to teach children their indigenous language. Lewis said “I’m relieved. I’m excited. We’re proving with this little yellow schoolhouse there are more responsible, sustainable pathways to removing a building. We shouldn’t just bulldoze everything because it’s the easy thing to do.”