Summary

• A new addition at Wellington Secondary in Nanaimo is complete
• With 150 new student seats, more students will soon settle into a modern, energy-efficient learning space
• The addition includes flex spaces, an elevator for accessibility and a covered breezeway to the main school

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As Nanaimo continues to grow, students and families will soon have access to 150 new student seats with the completion of a new addition at Wellington Secondary.

“Families in Nanaimo-Lantzville want to know their children can attend a great school close to home,” said George Anderson, MLA for Nanaimo-Lantzville. “This new addition at Wellington Secondary means more students will be able to learn, grow and build friendships in their own community. It’s an investment in local families and in the future of a neighbourhood that continues to thrive.”

Features of the addition

The new addition includes:

• six classrooms, which add a total of 150 new seats to help address enrolment growth
• modern learning environments designed to support collaboration, flexibility and student engagement
• energy-efficient building systems that create a bright and comfortable space for students to learn throughout the year
• flex spaces
• elevator for accessibility
• covered breezeway to the main school

“Strong communities are built with thoughtful planning,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “This expansion at Wellington Secondary will give more students an accessible, welcoming new space that supports modern learning approaches and helps them thrive in their own ways.”

Supporting students in Nanaimo

The Province invested $9 million in the addition, which will open for Nanaimo students in September 2026.

Since 2017, the Province has committed more than $106 million to create 1,035 new seats and 890 seismically safer seats for students in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District. These include:

• new addition opened at Dover Bay Secondary (January 2023) and École Hammond Bay Elementary (June 2023)
• new addition at Chase River Elementary, anticipated to be complete in summer 2026
• seismic upgrades at Cilaire and Pleasant Valley elementary schools (opened in 2022)
• new addition at Ladysmith Primary that was recently approved and is anticipated to be complete in fall 2027
• replacement of Ladysmith Intermediate at an expanded capacity was recently approved and is anticipated to be complete in fall 2028

“This six-classroom addition will give current and future Wellington students more room to learn and reflects our district's ongoing commitment to supporting vibrant, inclusive schools where students are supported and feel they can belong, grow and thrive,” said Leanne Lee, chair, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools. “We are grateful to the Province for supporting this important project and to our facilities team, school team and everyone who helped bring this project to life for the benefit of our entire community.”

Creating more student spaces throughout B.C.

• Since 2017, the Province has approved more than $7 billion to build and upgrade schools in B.C.
• These investments will create more than 47,000 new student seats and more than 39,000 seismically safer seats.

As the province grows, the B.C. government remains committed to working with school districts and municipalities to provide all students with safe, modern and inspiring places to learn.

Learn More:

For more information about K-12 school capital projects in B.C., visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/administration/capital

Quotes:

Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care –

“When students have the space and resources they need, they’re better able to focus on learning, building friendships and preparing for their future. By adding these new seats at Wellington Secondary, we’re helping ensure students in Nanaimo have more access to the modern, welcoming spaces they need to succeed.”   

Brianne Podritske, chair, parent advisory council, Wellington Secondary –

“Our parent advisory council is grateful for this investment in our kids’ future, and we are appreciative of all the work that went in to making this addition possible. Wellington has always been a school where students are supported to reach their potential. These new classrooms will allow more students the opportunity to learn in a bright, welcoming and comfortable environment.”