Vic High doesn’t need replacement

Well, they’re at it again. Remember the Johnson Street Bridge and how it was better and cheaper to knock down the Blue Bridge and build a new one? Worked out well, didn’t it?

Now we have the most expensive bridge (per lineal foot and with no rail) in North America.

Iconic Vic High has weathered 103 years and is an architectural statement. Check it out driving up Fernwood Road from Pandora Avenue or down Fernwood hill. It might not be there much longer.

Once again, the needed seismic upgrade leads School District 61 to save a few million dollars by knocking down a building (which is in excellent condition) and building a new one. The new technical wing on the north side of the building already seismically anchors that side of the building.

They say we need 200 more seats when the secondary schools in the district have 600 unfilled seats. And do you note that huge building surge in Vic High’s catchment area of family homes that will produce more students? Those bachelor, one- and two-bedroom condos will simply overwhelm the secondary schools.

Please email or text or phone our minister of education, Rob Fleming. Vic High is in his riding. He says it’s not the Ministry of Education’s responsibility to protect heritage buildings.

Let’s have a new, up-to-date school such as Oak Bay High School. Driven past the new iconic Oak Bay secondary school lately? Yes, that settles it.

Patrick Skillings Victoria