Facilities and Enrolment Consultation 2026

The Chilliwack School Board will consider recommendations for balancing enrolment and capacity at Chilliwack schools at a board meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The enrolment and facilities review will be the only agenda item.

The board approved the addition of the May 12 meeting at last night’s board meeting. Superintendent Rohan Arul-pragasam also provided the board with an update on the public consultation process.

“This work is about planning and also hearing from the community,” said Arul-pragasam. “Over the past year, we spent a significant amount of time listening to students, staff, families and our broader communities. People have shared thoughtful stories about how any recommendations would impact them and their families.”

Public consultation ran from January 28 – April 10, 2026. Students, families, staff, and community members provided feedback on the draft proposal via a survey, emails, a student focus group, and two open houses. The district also hosted online information sessions for staff and community members.

The public consultation summary report is now available on Let’s Talk: https://www.letstalksd33.ca/facilities-and-enrolment-consultation-2026. 7,700 people visited the website during the consultation period and over 3000 downloaded the draft plan. Over 400 people took the survey.

Respondents shared that stability for students, keeping students together as they move through school, preventing overcrowding, and access to neighbourhood schools were their top priorities for long-term planning. Any approved recommendations would be implemented in September 2027 to allow for transition planning with school communities.

Between 2016 and 2021, Chilliwack was the second fastest growing municipality in Canada. Growth happened faster in some areas than others, creating uneven pressure across schools. Recent projections from the province show that enrolment is expected to stabilize across B.C.

School District to Host Two Open Houses Next Week

District is gathering feedback on a draft plan to manage school growth

The Chilliwack School District is exploring options to balance school enrolment and capacity over the next decade. Next week, the District will host two open houses to hear directly from staff, families, students, and community members about a draft plan for managing long-term growth in Chilliwack schools. District staff will give a brief presentation, and trustees and staff will be on hand to listen to feedback and answer questions.

Since January 28th, the District has been seeking community input. Staff have hosted sessions for staff and students, as well as two online presentations where community members could ask questions. A survey is open until March 10, 2026 at www.letstalksd33.ca.

The public consultation period lasts until April 10, 2026. The draft plan and information on upcoming engagement opportunities is available at: www.letstalksd33.ca.

A final decision is expected by June 2026. Any approved recommendations would be implemented in September 2027.

Between 2016 and 2021, Chilliwack was the second fastest growing municipality in Canada. By 2035, the city’s population is expected to reach 132,000. This growth, combined with limited available land, is putting pressure on Chilliwack schools, especially at the middle and secondary school levels.

In 2023, the provincial government announced that it would build a new elementary school on Chilliwack’s east side, adding space for 500 K-5 students. Construction will be completed in Spring 2027, and the new school will open in September 2027.

Event Information:

North Side Open House

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 at Chilliwack Secondary School

6:00 – 8:00pm, presentation at 6:30pm

South Side Open House

Thursday, March 5th, 2026 at G.W. Graham Secondary School

6:00 – 8:00pm, presentation at 6:30pm

The survey is open from February 17 to March 10, 2026. Take the Survey!

The Chilliwack School District is exploring options to balance school enrolment and capacity over the next decade. At a public board meeting on Tuesday, January 27th, the Board directed District staff to begin a formal public consultation on a draft plan to address capacity challenges at some Chilliwack public schools.

Public consultation runs from January 28 – April 10, 2026. Students, families, staff, and community members will have opportunities to provide feedback on the draft proposal before the Board makes any decisions. The draft plan and information on upcoming engagement opportunities is available on Let's Talk.

“District staff have engaged with school communities over the past year and presented us with a well-informed draft plan. Now it’s important that the Board of Education hears feedback on the proposed solutions,” said Board Chair, David Swankey.

A final decision is expected by June 2026. Any approved recommendations would be implemented in September 2027.

From January 2025 to early January 2026, District staff had 37 meetings with nearly 600 people including school staff, students, parents, and community partners to hear feedback on early ideas. The meetings involved 11 school communities. A What We Heard Report summarizes those conversations.

Between 2016 and 2021, Chilliwack was the second fastest growing municipality in Canada. By 2035, the city’s population is expected to reach 132,000. This growth, combined with limited available land, is putting pressure on Chilliwack schools, especially at the middle and secondary school levels.

In 2023, the provincial government announced that it would build a new elementary school on Chilliwack’s east side, adding space for 500 K-5 students. Construction will be completed in Spring 2027, and the new school will open in September 2027.