April 30, 2026
New Schools to be Built on Tweedsmuir Elementary Site
New Westminster Schools, with support from the Province, is moving forward with a plan to address the district’s long-standing capacity challenges by proposing to turn the École Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary site into a major educational campus featuring two brand-new schools.
“We are grateful to the province of British Columbia for advancing this business case,” said Cheryl Sluis, chair of the Board of Education. “This is an innovative approach to addressing the significant capacity pressures facing our district. We are especially grateful for our partners. By working together, we are much more effective advocates for our community.”
“The Government of British Columbia has initiated a bold approach to addressing the significant capacity challenges faced by New Westminster Schools,” said Mark Davidson, superintendent of schools “Inviting New Westminster Schools to develop a business case based on projected enrolment is welcomed innovation that will serve our community and students well. I am excited to continue the work with our community, the City of New Westminster, Ministry of Infrastructure staff and other partners.”
The district is now developing a formal business case for the Ministry of Infrastructure to support this redevelopment, which represents a significant step toward modernizing local infrastructure. The proposed “campus model” replaces the previous goal of purchasing new land in the city, a path the Province can no longer support due to mounting fiscal pressures and a lack of available property in New Westminster. By building on land the district already owns, the move ensures that students can finally transition out of portables and into permanent classrooms.
The proposed project aims to create an educational hub that will service between 2,000 and 2,300 students. The initiative will not only serve the Tweedsmuir community but also alleviate significant enrollment pressures facing New Westminster Schools by adding between 1,500 and 1,900 net new seats to the district. This project is the culmination of years of advocacy by families and the Board of Education to provide children with the vibrant, modern learning spaces they deserve.
Once construction preparations are underway, Tweedsmuir staff and students will relocate to the former Stride Avenue Community School in Burnaby. This temporary home was made possible through a partnership with Burnaby Schools (SD41), which offered the facility for use. In the meantime, no changes will occur at Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary in the year ahead. Everyone will remain at the current site for the entirety of the 2026-2027 school year.
The district recognizes the challenges this project presents to the Tweedsmuir community. To care for staff and families, New Westminster Schools will work closely with the Ministry to secure the resources and supports necessary, including (but not limited to) investigating transportation options, to make this transition as smooth and positive as possible.
As the project business case is still under development, the final form of the Tweedsmuir campus is still being determined. The Board and district administration will review options that reflect the community’s recommendations from the Long Range Facilities Plan survey. New Westminster Schools will keep Tweedsmuir families and the broader community updated and involved as this exciting future for our students begins to take shape.