Schools on the Sunshine Coast

Bowen Island School 1893 - 1979
  • In 1979 the school was asked to join the Vancouver School District.
​Cedar Grove Elementary School 1977 - Present
  • Originally called Pratt Road School and then Chaster Road School
Chatelech Secondary School 1976 - Present
Davis Bay Elementary School 1957 - Present
Donely's Landing School 1915 - 1951
  • 1915 school in store on waterfront.  1919 school built top of Hassan Road, also community hall called 'Maple Leaf School'.  Students came by boat from Irvine's Landing and Kleindale.
Doriston School 1912 - 1937
East Roberts Creek School 1911 - 1952
Egmont School 1915 - 1982
  • Originally called 'Jervis Inlet Assisted School'.  1932 built 'Egmont Rural School'.  1950 new school built.
Elphinstone Bay School 1910 - 1952
  • Also called West Roberts Creek School
Elphinstone Secondary School 1952 - Present
Gambier Island School 1905 - 1920
  • A school was built at Hope Point.  In 1910 a new school was built in Long Bay.  In 1920 all students went to Gibsons by boat.
Gibsons Landing Elementary School 1888 - Present
  • In 1888 children were taught in a log cabin on the Gibson's property.  In 1891 a one room schoolhouse was built at the corner of Highway 101 and School Road, the 'Barn'.  Called 'Howe Sound Elementary School'.
Halfmoon Bay School 1915 - Present
  • 1915 school cabin on Redrooffs Road.  1923 school on Trout Lake Road.  1989 new school built on Northwood Road
Hardy Island School 1915 - 1917
  • Original school collapsed on first day of school.  Hammond family moved to Nelson Island and school closed.
Irvine's Landing School 1920 - 1978
  • New school built in 1931, also community hall.
Kleindale School 1930 - 1956
  • Originally one room floating school.  School built in 1932.
Langdale Elementary School 1961 - Present
Madeira Park School 1952 - Present
Nelson Island School 1918 - 1959
  • 'Ballet Bay School' 1917 - 1920.  New school built in Egmont and towed to Blind Bay. 
Pender Harbour Secondary School 1957 - Present
  • School destroyed by fire in 1977.  New school built 1978.
Port Mellon School/Seaside School 1936 - 1965
Roberts Creek Elementary School 1952 - Present
  • Burnt down in 1962 and rebuilt
Sechelt Indian Residential School 1904 - 1975
  • Known as St. Augustine's.  School burnt down in 1917.  New building completed in 1922.  In 1975 the school closed, top level was destroyed by fire and the building demolished.
Sechelt Schools 1904 - Present
  • 1904 school was held in the Whitaker store 'Front School'.  1913 school was moved to 'First Porpoise Bay School'.  1914 new school 'Porpoise Bay School'.  1920 additional new school 'School on the Hill', Porpoise Bay School closed.  1939 'Sechelt Consolidated School.  In 1946 'School on the Hill' moved to Sechelt school site.  1959 Trail Bay Junior Secondary opened behind Sechelt School.
Silversands School 1939 - 1950
St. Vincent's Bay School 1928 - 1929
Vancouver Bay School 1929 - 1950
  • Books and desks came from St. Vincent's Bay School.  New school built in 1934.
West Sechelt Elementary School 1964 - Present
Wilson Creek School 1992 - 1939
  • Closed in 1934, re-opened in 1936 and joined with Sechelt to become the 'Sechelt United School' in 1939

School Districts

In 1885 the Public School Act allowed unorganized districts to form their own districts.  The School Board consisted of three people, one elected each year for a three year term.  
The Howe Sound School District was formed in 1890 to create the Howe Sound School.  East Roberts Creek had their own district until 1939 when it joined Howe Sound.  Elphinstone Bay followed in 1945.  Sechelt and Wilson Creek had their own boards until 1939 when they joined together.
In 1946 the Sechelt School District #46 was created to include all the smaller districts from Port Mellon to Pender Harbour, including Jervis Inlet and Sechelt Inlet as well as Gambier, Bowen and Keats Islands.

First Teacher

The first teacher at the Gibson's Landing School was Mrs. Wesley (Lucy) Smith of Langdale.  She taught from 1888 until 1891.  There were ten boys and thirteen girls enrolled at that time.
Mr. Graham was the following teacher and taught for 5 years.  The teachers earned $50. per month and were also responsible for lighting the stove in the morning.  Community members chopped the wood and kept the building clean.
​Mr. MacDonald was the first principal in 1910.