Britannia Secondary School
Encyclopedia
Britannia Community Secondary School is a public
community
secondary school
located in the Grandview–Woodland neighbourhood on the east-side
of Vancouver
, British Columbia
. The school educates its students using a district-wide block schedule program that alternates four blocks every two days. Students are subject to eight different blocks in total. As of 2010, enrolment was 748 with 26% of their students having special needs. Britannia has the lowest Fraser Institute
rating with a 3.0/10, the lowest of Vancouver School Board secondary schools.
The school was founded in 1908 as the second high school to be constructed in the city, and is now the oldest remaining secondary school. The first classes were held in the Admiral Seymour Elementary School
building in September 1908. The school moved to the then partially completed Britannia building in 1910. The school colours of red, green, and white and the school motto "Per Vias Rectas" were adopted at this time. During the 1966-67 school year, a new wing was constructed and now houses the school office. In 1974, Britannia Secondary became Britannia Elementary-Secondary School. Britannia celebrated its centennial in 2008.
Situated in the Commercial Drive area of Vancouver, Britannia is a part of a larger community site which includes an elementary school, public library, skating rink, fitness facility and swimming pool. Britannia is also host to many other programs in academics, fine arts, leadership and academic tutoring and support. Nearly 200 courses are offered at the school including 19 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme
courses and a Hockey Canada
Skills Academy. Britannia athletic teams compete in the Vancouver Secondary School Athletics Association as part of BC School Sports and are known as the Bruins. Notable Britannia alumni include a Order of Canada
recipient, a former Premier of British Columbia
, and a former Supreme Court of Canada
justice
.
Britannia, the second high school to be constructed in Vancouver
is now the oldest remaining secondary school. The first classes were held in the Admiral Seymour building in September, 1908. The school moved to the then partially completed Britannia building in 1910. The school colours of red, green, and white and the school motto "Per Vias Rectas", which means "straight forward", were adopted at this time.
In September 1955, the gymnasium and cafeteria were added to the 'old building'. It was also at this time that Grades 8 and 9 students were first admitted for enrolment. During the 1966-67 school year, a new wing was constructed providing additional Science
, Technology Education
, Home Economics
, and Business Education
classrooms. The new wing now also houses the school office. The new wing was connected to the old building by a walkway which most students call "the Skywalk."
In 1974, Britannia Secondary became Britannia Elementary-Secondary School. The elementary section opened its doors on January 9, 1975 to 16 staff and 370 students making a combined student enrollment of approximately 1800. This was also the year of incorporation of the Britannia Community Center Society and the year that Britannia became a community school. Britannia celebrated its centennial in 2008. Britannia alumni assisted in the planning of the celebration.
for grades 11–12 and a Venture program for grades 8–10. Britannia and Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School
are the only two public secondary schools in Vancouver to offer the programme. The programme offers some course content which is at the first-year university
level.
The Venture program, which is based on the mini school concept, prepares students intending to enter IB in grade 11 to gain leadership skills, develop teamwork and offers a more enriching educational experience than regular classes.
Skills Academy. Other alternative programs in Britannia are for some students with academic difficulty, and/or have a first nations
heritage.
Britannia also has a library within the community centre that serves as the school library and is also as a Vancouver Public Library
. It is one of, if not the, largest secondary school library in the school district. Students can access the library's resources through their student library card as well as a Vancouver Public Library card. The community can also access the resources with a Vancouver Public Library card.
, and most of Grandview–Woodland. Their area has the highest concentration of Canadian Aboriginal
in Vancouver. The Britannia student body also include those from outside the catchment area, as well as outside the district through open enrolment. In 2010, the school had a student body of 748 students in grades 8–12. 28% of the Britannia student population are Canadian Aboriginal, while 4% are ESL
students and 2% are non-residents. The school has a student population with at least 38 different languages spoken including Cantonese
, Vietnamese
, Mandarin and Tagalog. Approximately 30% of Britannia students live in households that receive income assistance or have marginal cost of funds, and 26% of students were identified as having special needs
. The school has the lowest Fraser Institute
rating with a 3.0/10, the lowest of Vancouver School Board secondary schools. The Britannia graduation rate is 92%.
Beverly Seed serves as principal, a position she has held since 2006, with Andrew Schofield as vice principal. The staff consists of 2 administrators, 53 full and part-time teachers and 26 support staff members. The school as an average class size of 22.9, which is lower than the district average class size of 24.8.
Britannia is predominately an AA school in terms of athletics according to the BC School Sports
. The school had a dominant football team in the 1970s, winning the Shrine Bowl Provincial Championships
once, and being runner-ups three times. In 1974, Britannia hosted their first basketball tournament called the Bruin Invitational Basketball Tournament. Since then, the tournament is hosted annually and it has been a great success to Britannia.
On March 8, 2008, The Britannia Senior Boys Basketball team won the British Columbia AA Provincial Basketball Tournament by beating the Windsor Dukes
81-73. That was the first time any public school from East Vancouver has won a B.C. boys senior high basketball title. The next season, Britannia's senior boys team made the 'AA' Provincial final again, but lost to Southern Okanagan Secondary School
from Oliver. The following 2010 basketball season saw the Britannia Senior Boys Basketball team return to the AA Provincial Basketball final and defeated the basketball team from RC Palmer Secondary to reclaim the title of AA Provincial Champion.
Britannia has teams for badminton
, basketball
, cross country
, rugby
, soccer, table tennis
, tennis
, track and field
, ultimate frisbee
, and volleyball
.
Britannia has had a history of strong students and alumni over the years. It has produced Premiers, Supreme Court Justices and noted philanthropists over its 102-year history. Notably, in the past three years, Britannia has produced two Loran Scholars (the largest undergraduate scholarship in Canada, at $75,000) and one TD Canada Trust Scholarship
recipient ($70,000), the most of any secondary school in Canada.
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
community
Community school
The term "community school" refers to types of publicly funded school in England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to a school that serves as both an educational institution and a centre of community life. A community school is both a place and a...
secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located in the Grandview–Woodland neighbourhood on the east-side
East Vancouver
East Vancouver is a region within the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Geographically, East Vancouver is bordered to the north by Burrard Inlet, to the south by the Fraser River, and to the east by the city of Burnaby...
of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The school educates its students using a district-wide block schedule program that alternates four blocks every two days. Students are subject to eight different blocks in total. As of 2010, enrolment was 748 with 26% of their students having special needs. Britannia has the lowest Fraser Institute
Fraser Institute
The Fraser Institute is a Canadian think tank. It has been described as politically conservative and right-wing libertarian and espouses free market principles...
rating with a 3.0/10, the lowest of Vancouver School Board secondary schools.
The school was founded in 1908 as the second high school to be constructed in the city, and is now the oldest remaining secondary school. The first classes were held in the Admiral Seymour Elementary School
Admiral Seymour Elementary School
Admiral Seymour Elementary School is an elementary school located in the Strathcona neighborhood of Vancouver.-History:Admiral Seymour school was named in honour of Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, a British Naval officer who took part in the capture of Canton....
building in September 1908. The school moved to the then partially completed Britannia building in 1910. The school colours of red, green, and white and the school motto "Per Vias Rectas" were adopted at this time. During the 1966-67 school year, a new wing was constructed and now houses the school office. In 1974, Britannia Secondary became Britannia Elementary-Secondary School. Britannia celebrated its centennial in 2008.
Situated in the Commercial Drive area of Vancouver, Britannia is a part of a larger community site which includes an elementary school, public library, skating rink, fitness facility and swimming pool. Britannia is also host to many other programs in academics, fine arts, leadership and academic tutoring and support. Nearly 200 courses are offered at the school including 19 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
courses and a Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
Skills Academy. Britannia athletic teams compete in the Vancouver Secondary School Athletics Association as part of BC School Sports and are known as the Bruins. Notable Britannia alumni include a Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
recipient, a former Premier of British Columbia
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
, and a former Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
justice
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
.
History
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
is now the oldest remaining secondary school. The first classes were held in the Admiral Seymour building in September, 1908. The school moved to the then partially completed Britannia building in 1910. The school colours of red, green, and white and the school motto "Per Vias Rectas", which means "straight forward", were adopted at this time.
In September 1955, the gymnasium and cafeteria were added to the 'old building'. It was also at this time that Grades 8 and 9 students were first admitted for enrolment. During the 1966-67 school year, a new wing was constructed providing additional Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, Technology Education
Technology education
Technology education is a study of technology, in which students "learn about the processes and knowledge related to technology". As a study, it covers the human ability to shape and change the physical world to meet needs, by manipulating materials and tools with techniques.-External links:...
, Home Economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
, and Business Education
Business education
Business education involves teaching students the fundamentals, theories, and processes of business. Education in this field occurs at several levels, including secondary education and higher education or university education. Approximately 38% of student enroll in one or more business courses...
classrooms. The new wing now also houses the school office. The new wing was connected to the old building by a walkway which most students call "the Skywalk."
In 1974, Britannia Secondary became Britannia Elementary-Secondary School. The elementary section opened its doors on January 9, 1975 to 16 staff and 370 students making a combined student enrollment of approximately 1800. This was also the year of incorporation of the Britannia Community Center Society and the year that Britannia became a community school. Britannia celebrated its centennial in 2008. Britannia alumni assisted in the planning of the celebration.
Enriched courses
Britannia offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma ProgrammeIB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
for grades 11–12 and a Venture program for grades 8–10. Britannia and Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School (Vancouver)
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School is named after the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill.Churchill Secondary is one of two International Baccalaureate schools and one of three French Immersion secondary schools in Vancouver.Churchill is fed by the surrounding...
are the only two public secondary schools in Vancouver to offer the programme. The programme offers some course content which is at the first-year university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
level.
The Venture program, which is based on the mini school concept, prepares students intending to enter IB in grade 11 to gain leadership skills, develop teamwork and offers a more enriching educational experience than regular classes.
Alternative programs
Britannia offers many alternative programs including the Britannia Hockey Academy, which was the first sport-focused academy in the Vancouver school system, and is licensed by the Hockey CanadaHockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
Skills Academy. Other alternative programs in Britannia are for some students with academic difficulty, and/or have a first nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
heritage.
Facilities
Britannia Secondary is unique in having community centre facilities within the complex. The school is situated on a 16 hectare site. The Britannia Community Centre boasts an ice rink, swimming pool, several gyms, a weight room and fitness centre, and Britannia Secondary students often use these facilities in physical education classes and in extracurricular activities.Britannia also has a library within the community centre that serves as the school library and is also as a Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver Public Library
The Vancouver Public Library is the third largest public library system in Canada, with more than 2.5 million items in its collections, 22 branches, approximately 375,000 cardholders, and nearly nine million item borrowings annually...
. It is one of, if not the, largest secondary school library in the school district. Students can access the library's resources through their student library card as well as a Vancouver Public Library card. The community can also access the resources with a Vancouver Public Library card.
Demographics
The Britannia student body comes from a catchment area that includes the neighbourhoods of Strathcona, the Downtown EastsideDowntown Eastside
The Downtown Eastside is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and is known as "Canada's poorest postal code"....
, and most of Grandview–Woodland. Their area has the highest concentration of Canadian Aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
in Vancouver. The Britannia student body also include those from outside the catchment area, as well as outside the district through open enrolment. In 2010, the school had a student body of 748 students in grades 8–12. 28% of the Britannia student population are Canadian Aboriginal, while 4% are ESL
ESL
ESL is a common abbreviation for English as a Second Language, see English language learning and teaching.ESL may also refer to:-Companies:...
students and 2% are non-residents. The school has a student population with at least 38 different languages spoken including Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
, Vietnamese
Vietnamese language
Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is the mother tongue of 86% of Vietnam's population, and of about three million overseas Vietnamese. It is also spoken as a second language by many ethnic minorities of Vietnam...
, Mandarin and Tagalog. Approximately 30% of Britannia students live in households that receive income assistance or have marginal cost of funds, and 26% of students were identified as having special needs
Special needs
In the USA, special needs is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. For instance, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International...
. The school has the lowest Fraser Institute
Fraser Institute
The Fraser Institute is a Canadian think tank. It has been described as politically conservative and right-wing libertarian and espouses free market principles...
rating with a 3.0/10, the lowest of Vancouver School Board secondary schools. The Britannia graduation rate is 92%.
Beverly Seed serves as principal, a position she has held since 2006, with Andrew Schofield as vice principal. The staff consists of 2 administrators, 53 full and part-time teachers and 26 support staff members. The school as an average class size of 22.9, which is lower than the district average class size of 24.8.
Athletics
| Provincial championships | Provincial runner-ups | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Year(s) | Sport | Year(s) |
| Shrine Bowl | |
Shrine Bowl | 1970,1971,1972 |
| Girls AA volleyball | 1969, 1970, 1971 | Boys AA basketball | |
| Wrestling | 1975, 1976 1977, 1978 |
Girls AA basketball | |
| Boys table tennis | 1982, 1983, 1984 1985, 1988, 1989 1991 |
||
| Girls table tennis | 1982, 1988, 1989 1990, 1991 |
||
| Boys AA basketball | 2008, 2010 | ||
Britannia is predominately an AA school in terms of athletics according to the BC School Sports
BC school sports
BC School Sports is the governing body for high school athletics in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It was originally organized in 1965 as the British Columbia Federation of School Athletic Associations by a group of interested teachers and administrators. A Constitution was adopted in...
. The school had a dominant football team in the 1970s, winning the Shrine Bowl Provincial Championships
Shrine Bowl Provincial Championships
The Shrine Bowl Provincial Championships is a high school varsity football playoff championship, in the province of British Columbia, Canada; from the years 1966 to 1975.- History :...
once, and being runner-ups three times. In 1974, Britannia hosted their first basketball tournament called the Bruin Invitational Basketball Tournament. Since then, the tournament is hosted annually and it has been a great success to Britannia.
On March 8, 2008, The Britannia Senior Boys Basketball team won the British Columbia AA Provincial Basketball Tournament by beating the Windsor Dukes
Windsor Secondary School
Windsor Secondary School is a grade 8-12 high school in North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada.-Description:It was founded in 1961, and currently has an enrollment of 810 students...
81-73. That was the first time any public school from East Vancouver has won a B.C. boys senior high basketball title. The next season, Britannia's senior boys team made the 'AA' Provincial final again, but lost to Southern Okanagan Secondary School
Southern Okanagan Secondary School
Southern Okanagan Secondary was a public high school in Oliver, British Columbia until September 12, 2011 when the majority of the school was engulfed in flames. The facility was under a multi-million dollar renovation project at the time. Most of the original school was completely destroyed in...
from Oliver. The following 2010 basketball season saw the Britannia Senior Boys Basketball team return to the AA Provincial Basketball final and defeated the basketball team from RC Palmer Secondary to reclaim the title of AA Provincial Champion.
Britannia has teams for badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
, soccer, table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, ultimate frisbee
Ultimate (sport)
Ultimate is a sport played with a 175 gram flying disc. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to an end zone in American football or rugby...
, and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
.
Notable alumni
TD Canada Trust Scholarship for Community Leadership
The TD Scholarships for Community Leadership is one of the largest and most prestigious scholarships of its kind in Canada offered by Toronto Dominion Bank worth up to $70,000.-TD Scholarship Award:...
recipient ($70,000), the most of any secondary school in Canada.
| Year of Graduation | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Tong Louie | noted philanthropist and Order of Canada Order of Canada The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit... recipient |
| 1939 | Barbara Howard | renowned artist |
| 1948 | Dave Barrett Dave Barrett David Barrett, OC , commonly known as Dave Barrett, is a retired politician and social worker in British Columbia, Canada... |
former Premier of British Columbia Premier of British Columbia The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used... |
| 1972 | Frank Iacobucci Frank Iacobucci Frank Iacobucci, CC was a Puisne Justice on the Supreme Court of Canada from 1991 to 2004 when he retired from the bench. He is an expert in business and tax law.-Early career:... |
former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Supreme Court of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions... |
| 1997 | Amber Hall Amber Hall Amber Jade Hall is a professional women's basketball player formerly in the WNBA. Her primary position was forward.-High school years:... |
former Women's National Basketball Association Women's National Basketball Association The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association... player. |
| 1971 | Barry Houlihan | former BC Lions BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954... player |
| unknown | Angelo Branca Angelo Branca Angelo Ernest Branca was a judge in British Columbia's Supreme Court and Court of Appeal from 1963 until 1978, a prominent Italian-Canadian leader, especially of the Vancouver Italian community, and a Canadian amateur middleweight boxing champion.- Early life :Angelo Branca was born in what is now... |
Supreme Court of British Columbia Supreme Court of British Columbia The Supreme Court of British Columbia is the superior trial court for the province of British Columbia. The BCSC hears civil and criminal law cases as well as appeals from the Provincial Court of British Columbia. Including supernumerary judges, there are presently 108 judges... judge |
External links
- Britannia Secondary
- Vancouver School Board—Britannia Secondary
- History of Britannia Secondary
- Britannia Community Centre
- Britannia Centennial