New classrooms open at Surrey elementary school

The B. C. government is expanding Walnut Road Elementary in Surrey, adding 295 new seats with an investment of $18 million. Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma stated that the initiative addresses the urgent need for educational infrastructure as families flock to the area. Minister of Education Lisa Beare expressed commitment to ensuring every student has access to modern learning environments.

This expansion is part of a broader strategy, involving nearly $1 billion in school construction investments in Surrey over the past eight years. In 2024, further expansions for several secondary schools were announced, including 800 new seats at Fleetwood Park Secondary. The new Ta’talu Elementary also recently opened, creating 655 additional student seats. The use of prefabricated materials is facilitating faster construction of classrooms. Gary Tymoschuk, chair of the Surrey board of education, praised the collaboration between the province and local schools to address capacity challenges.