With a major seismic refit and expansion due to start next month at Victoria High School, the venerable Fernwood institution is offering a virtual “final tour.”
The school has been at its Grant Street location since 1914, but its roots go back to 1876 — when it was housed in a log building on the grounds of what is now Central Middle School.
That makes it the oldest high school west of Winnipeg and north of San Francisco.
The Greater Victoria School District’s idea had been to have an open house and host group tours in person before the $79.7-million project began, but the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on the size of gatherings put an end to that.
COVID came up before planning could even begin, said Greater Victoria School Board chairwoman Jordan Watters.
“We know how much the building means to the community and all the alumni,” she said. “So we wanted to make sure we could give them the gift of a final tour.”
The tour is available here. It comes with a central “dollhouse” feature that allows users to click on the various spaces in the school.
The tour includes historical information on items throughout the school, such as the brass shield that bears the names of most of the 121 Vic High alumni who died in the Second World War.
It also shows a bronze shield with the names of three teachers and 82 alumni who died in the First World War.
The Vic High refurbishment will include retention of the school facade and other heritage features, “but at the same time it’s going to be a big update and a big change,” Jordan said. “It will be exciting.”
The project is due for completion in September 2022. During construction, students will attend classes at the former S.J. Willis Education Centre, which is being upgraded in preparation.
Students from district schools undergoing future seismic projects will also use the centre.
Along with the seismic upgrade, the new Vic High will increase student spaces to 1,000 from 800, and include a neighbourhood learning centre with child-care spaces.
