School type Public, high school Principal Darren Freeman Website gpvanier.ca Funding type State school | School number 7171040 Grades 8-12 Phone +1 250-338-9262 | |
Address 4830 Headquarters Rd, Courtenay, BC V9J 1P2, Canada School board School District 71 Comox Valley District School District 71 Comox Valley Similar Mark R Isfeld Secondar, Highland Secondary, North Island Distance, School District No 71 ‑ Com | ||
Georges P. Vanier Secondary School is a high school in Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada. The school was named after Georges P. Vanier, one of Canada's most popular Governors General.
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History
It opened in January 1968 completing a move of students from the old Courtenay Sr. high school. Vanier was built to house a capacity of 1200 students. The school population grew to 1700+ students in the early 2000s with the addition of 36 portable classrooms. This led to the opening of Mark R. Isfeld Senior Secondary School which became the third district secondary school in the early 2000s.
Vanier has primarily been the regional secondary school in the Comox Valley School District, serving students from Hornby and Denman Islands, the City of Courtenay, and the communities of Dove Creek, Merville, Black Creek, Saratoga and Miracle Beach communities up to the Oyster River which separates the Comox Valley School District from the Campbell River district.
Facilities
The school facility has a natural setting on 96 acres (390,000 m2) and conveniently located next to the Comox Valley Sports Centre, community track and playing fields. The grounds include three playing fields and access to a community all - weather field, a community daycare primarily built as a teen mother daycare. The Vanier facility includes the Vanier Studio theatre, a full Teaching Cafeteria, and a large Technology Education wing that includes a House Construction shop, Auto-Mechanics, Small engines shops, Metalwork shop, Electronics / Robotics and Drafting shops and a Woodwork shop.
International exchange
Vanier encourages international exchange students, and has established links with three sister schools, one in Wales and two in Japan. Some of Vanier's distinguished graduates include actors Barry Pepper and Kim Cattrall.
Awards
Some of the memorable highlights over the years include being selected the top B.C. School Sports school, winning British Columbia provincial championships in Cross-Country, Improvisational Theatre, Snowboarding, Robotics, Golf, Track and Field, Electronics.