When provincial support to acquire a new middle school site was withdrawn, New Westminster Schools was directed to create additional student spaces on existing district-owned property.
The Ministry of Infrastructure identified Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary as the target site due to its central location, favourable ground conditions, and large lot size. To address severe current and projected seat shortages, the district was instructed to submit a formal business case that significantly increases the number of students this site can accommodate.
While a business case does not ensure funding for the project, it is the first of several steps towards building the school.
This direction to use a district-owned site for the Tweedsmuir project was incorporated into the 2026 Long-Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) update, which included two redevelopment options (“Scenario A” and “Scenario B”). Following public consultation, the Board of Education endorsed “Scenario A” on June 16, 2026.
Business case “Scenario A”
“Scenario A” is a pathway towards a second secondary school in our community. The Lord Tweedsmuir campus will initially accommodate Grades 6-7 in the initial years, before transitioning to Grade 8-12 as our learning community continues to grow.
This scenario will:
- See the adoption of a new district-wide grade reconfiguration to a K-7 and 8-12 grade model.
- Elementary Schools: Kindergarten to Grade 7.
- Secondary Schools: Grade 8 to Grade 12.
- Result in the conversion of our middle schools into elementary schools.
If supported and funded by the Province, “Scenario A” addresses New Westminster Schools’ most pressing capacity challenge by creating a new secondary school in the district without first acquiring additional land. This is significant in New Westminster, where opportunities to purchase appropriately sized school sites are extremely limited.
Business case “Scenario C”
Following community consultation and the Board of Education’s endorsement of “Scenario A”, the Ministry gave district administration additional direction to explore a new potential outcome (“Scenario C”) and to remove “Scenario B” from consideration in the business case.
Under “Scenario C”, the Tweedsmuir site would house a Kindergarten to Grade 12 campus, serving approximately 2,200 students. Due to the timing of this direction, we were unable to consult with our community.
The District is investigating the feasibility of scenarios “A” and “C” in the business case and will submit both to the Province for funding consideration.
Stride Elementary
If the Tweedsmuir project is approved, the Ministry of Infrastructure has proposed temporarily relocating the Lord Tweedsmuir population to Burnaby’s former Stride Elementary School for the duration of construction.
Relocation would provide a contractor with unrestricted access to the entire Tweedsmuir site. This may potentially simplify the new campus’ construction process. However, Tweedsmuir students will have to attend school outside of New Westminster until the project is complete, which will require daily transportation to Burnaby.
We have also heard concerns from our community about relocating students out of our district, and the temporary use of a building that has not yet been replaced by the Provincial Government’s seismic mitigation program. Conversations with the Province are ongoing.
Key projects and timeline
- April 2026 – Ministry direction to proceed to business case for Lord Tweedsmuir site intensification and redevelopment.
- May 2026 – District communication and info session to the Lord Tweedsmuir learning community.
- June 2026 – Board endorsement of Scenario A of Long Range Facilities Plan for up to a 2,300 seat Junior-Secondary school (Grades 6 – 12).
- July 2027 – Direction received from the Ministry of exploring through our business case a Kindergarten to Grade 12 campus of up to 2,200 students.
- Fall 2026 – Anticipated submission of business case of Lord Tweedsmuir.
- TBD – Approval and funding of the Lord Tweedsmuir redevelopment.
Questions and Answers
General questions
1. What is the cost of the project? Where is the funding coming from?
The project cost will be developed during the creation of our business case. If the business case is approved, the funding will come from the provincial government through the Ministry of Infrastructure.
2. What is the district’s role in this project? What is the Provincial Government’s role?
The District prepares and submits the business case, including the proposed scope, capacity, schedule and estimated budget.
The Ministry of Infrastructure reviews the business case and determines whether the project will be approved and funded. The Ministry also provides the capital funding for approved major school construction projects.
It’s important to note that the District cannot independently approve or fund a project of this scale through its operating budget. The final project scope, funding amount and timing will depend on provincial approval.
3. Why can’t we keep students at the Tweedsmuir site while construction is taking place?
Relocating students to Stride Elementary would provide a contractor with unrestricted access to the entire Tweedsmuir site. This may potentially simplify the new campus’ building process and hasten its construction.
4. What will the catchment be like for the new school?
Catchment boundaries will be reviewed once an approved school project is announced. This will be done concurrently with the new Simcoe Elementary and a broader district review of catchment boundaries.
5. What configuration will the new school be and what programs will it host?
Programming and school configuration will be shaped by the Province’s decision on which project scenario it approves.
6. Why was the Lord Tweedsmuir site selected for this project?
Early efforts by the District to acquire land for another school were unsuccessful. As New Westminster Schools continues to face serious current and projected shortages of student spaces, it must examine how existing properties can accommodate more students.
The Province identified the Tweedsmuir site because it is District-owned, centrally located to where current and future growth is occurring, and is comparatively large to other land owned by the District and is considered suitable for redevelopment.
7. How will the project affect properties close the site?
The concerns of nearby residents are legitimate and will need to be considered.
Building height and location, setbacks, privacy, shadowing, noise, lighting, traffic, site access and the relationship between the schools and surrounding homes will need to be assessed through the design and approval processes.
Because no design has been developed, it is too early to describe the eventual effect on any particular property.
8. What analysis has been done regarding the traffic impact of expanding to two schools at the Lord Tweedsmuir site?
Traffic impacts will be fully assessed as part of the business case, and any required mitigation measures will be identified.
The assessment will need to consider 18th Street and Eighth Avenue; student drop-off and pick-up; staff and visitor parking; childcare traffic; pedestrian and cycling safety; access for emergency, garbage and recycling vehicles; and the cumulative effect of surrounding residential growth.
The District will need to work with the City to identify appropriate transportation and traffic-mitigation measures.
9. What do the plans for the two schools look like?
This is yet to be determined. We are at the very early stages of our planning and this will not be known for some time. During business case development, the District may have a better idea of school siting but not what the school will look like. As with all our capital projects, draft designs will be shared with the community and public information sessions/open houses will happen.
Stride Elementary questions
10. What is the status of the Stride Avenue school we will be moving into?
Stride Avenue school is in operational order, and students are currently attending the school.
The Province will make sure the school is inspected for safety prior to the move from Tweedsmuir.
11. What is the capacity of Stride? Does Stride have capacity for the French students?
Stride has capacity to accommodate all Lord Tweedsmuir students. The whole student population and staff will move to Stride.
12. Will the students from both Tweeds and Stride be sharing the same greenspace and playground?
Yes, both schools will be sharing the greenspace on site. Work will be underway between schools to determine how best to allow students and staff to make use and enjoy the space.
13. How will this move affect both private and District-operated daycares at Tweeds?
The District remains committed to maintaining the number of spaces within the District.
It is the District’s intent that the school aged care operated by WCASS and the District will be relocated to Stride Avenue Community School. We are working with WCASS to confirm and will support any needed licensing matters to ensure this is done seamlessly if they are supportive of the temporary relocation.
We are working closely with childcare partners to identify options for the infant/toddler program. Families will receive updates well in advance of any required changes.
14. Will Tweedsmuir Teachers and Staff be moved together to the temporary location and then to the new school(s)?
The intention is to relocate the whole school as is. Of course, as there is every year through collective agreement bid processes, there may be some staff movement.
15. Is there a bus stop for those using the accessibility bus at Stride?
Yes. Operational plans will be made to ensure students accessing Stride Avenue Community School by bus will have a safe and appropriate place to get on and off the bus.
16. Will there be a PAC at the Stride Avenue school?
While the physical school space is being relocated, there are no changes to the functionality as it exists today. The Lord Tweedsmuir PAC can continue as it is to support its school and students.
17. What is library space like at Stride?
Stride has an existing library space, and Tweedsmuir’s library resources will move with students to ensure continuity.
18. Will there be teacher parking at Stride?
Yes. We are working with Burnaby schools on a staff parking plan.