Hi Everyone,

The old Fleming School building is being demolished and VSB is trying to mark the South portion of that land as a "Surplus" in order to sell it or lease it.

We would like to request the neighbors living in this community to fill out the survey and express their thoughts on the potential sale/lease of this land. There is only a few more days left to share your opinion. https://survey.vsb.bc.ca/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=n4KI8plM (Two week end date: April 28th 2021)

VSB claims that the student population has been declining over the last 3 years. However, the recently built school is already completely full. There are kids on the waiting list for kindergarten and there is a lottery system in place for the pre-school upstairs.

Their student population forecast is way too short-sighted. The population in our neighborhood will continue to grow as we have more immigrants and families move into the community. As the City of Vancouver tries to tackle and create more affordable housing and with the increase in two family dwellings, secondary suites, laneway houses, land assemblies for townhouses and condos, it is truly hard to believe the forecasted low enrollment by VSB. The Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary site should retain as much land as possible so it can accommodate the potential growth. We have to consider future generations.  

In addition, the current and proposed green space is insufficient. Unlike other elementary schools, Fleming Elementary does not have an adjacent park or Community Centre. Neighborhood parks such as Tecumseh, Gordon, and Memorial South are not very close to the school. For $7M to $21M (max) in future VSB revenue, it is not worth sacrificing the space where children and the community can come to learn, play and enjoy. Compounded by the pandemic, we need the outdoor space more than ever. Please do not give up this precious land that will surely help our kids and community in the future.

Please take the time to learn more about the project and review some of the slides they presented in their recent information sessions. Fill out the survey and help spread the word about this project so Knight & 49th does not look like a concrete jungle.

Details from VSB website - govsb.ca/south-fleming-site 

VSB Survey ends April 28th - https://survey.vsb.bc.ca/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=n4KI8plM