Oak Bay High raising funds

$1.7 million still needed for theatre, field, technology

A campaign is underway to raise the rest of the money needed make the features envisioned for the new Oak Bay High School a reality.

The funds are being sought for such things as a 420-seat community theatre, an artificial-turf field and added classroom technology. The District of Oak Bay has donated $1 million to the theatre project, bringing the overall fundraising goal down to $1.7 million.

Other partners include the alumni association, the parent advisory council and the Bays United Football Club. Donors include the Kiwanis Club of Oak Bay and Ryan Vending.

The new $52.5-million school, which has a 1,300-student capacity, is scheduled to open in September.

The old school, which dates back to 1929, is due to be torn down this summer.

Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen said the benefits of the new high school will extend beyond the school grounds.

“The municipality is joining with the school board in order to build not only a school but a facility that has community space.”

In addition to the theatre, the community will be able to use the school’s neighbourhood learning centre.

Oak Bay High principal Dave Thomson said the centre will include a daycare, after-school care and exercise space, while the school itself has storage space for the community.

“Beyond the neighbourhood learning centre, we’ve identified and created spaces inside the school where they’re going to able to store their equipment and access it if they’re going to run additional programs in the other parts of the school,” he said.

Jensen said the school will be a “leading-edge facility.”

“It’s a great example of municipal and school board co-operation that achieves something that will benefit both the students and the community.”

He said municipal staff worked closely with the Greater Victoria school district on details of the learning centre. Community classes held there will be open to anyone in the region, he said.

For more information about the school and the fundraising effort, go to oakbayhigh.com.