Students and Staff Near End of First Term at New Cedar Hill Middle School
The Greater Victoria School District is celebrating the upgraded, seismically safe replacement building for Cedar Hill Middle School as students near the end of their first term in the new school. Students’ first day inside the new building was Friday, September 5, 2025.
The celebration comes with the release of a new and final construction video filmed in early September 2025: https://youtu.be/3Opockb7W2Q.
“The vision for the new school was a collaborative effort with input from students, families, community, staff, and our Indigenous partners through the Indigenous Education Department. As a school community, we’ve been honoured to carry elements of the old building into the new one, including Indigenous artwork, student artwork, stained glass, and the main office bench.” —Maryanne Trofimuk, Principal of Cedar Hill Middle School
The former school was built nearly 100 years ago and has an H-1 seismic ranking, the highest level of seismic vulnerability. Controlled demolition of the old school has already begun, and completion is anticipated for February 2026.
“A building like this doesn’t just happen; it takes a community. As we look ahead to completing Phase 2 of the project, which includes the demolition of the old school, installation of the geothermal ground loop, and site landscaping, we are reflecting on the many hands and hearts that brought us here. Thank you to all stakeholders that have supported this project.” —Stephen Monahan, Manager, Major Capital Projects, Greater Victoria School District.
The school was purposefully built to foster greater student engagement, collaboration, and connection to Indigenous Education and the Traditional Territories of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. The new school features purpose-built and new-to-the-district spaces such as the Indigenous Welcome Centre and collaboration spaces that support a school culture of connection and community.
“It has been inspiring to see the collaboration between the school community, our facilities teams, and the many contractors who have supported the construction of the new school, resulting in a safer, more accessible, and a modern space to learn. I thank staff and families for their patience and flexibility during the transitionary period and for their excitement as they’ve had time to explore the new space and make it their own.” —Deb Whitten, Superintendent, Greater Victoria School District
The new school is also the greenest building in the School District, providing a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions versus a baseline school model. The school includes air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, a geothermal field, and solar panels (100kW photovoltaic system). As well, windows in each classroom provide natural daylight for health benefits and reduction in energy costs. Efficient heat pumps are also included to help reduce the school’s carbon footprint.
“I’ve been lucky enough to witness the school in its final stages of construction, after facilities teams and contractors have built the seismically safe structure from the ground up. Now, as students and staff have made the new school their home over the last couple of months, I have been truly impressed by how the school community has embraced the space and transformed it into a vibrant learning environment. I look forward to future updates on the project as the focus shifts to landscaping and outdoor spaces that lend well to the neighbourhood. ” —Sherri Bell, Official Trustee, Board of Education, Greater Victoria School District
Greater Victoria School District No. 61
Communications
community@sd61.bc.ca