šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown Elementary is a new urban school in downtown Vancouver. Enrolling Kindergarten to Grade 7 students for the first time in September 2017, šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown Elementary is located in a growing urban area of Vancouver, BC.  Intersecting the communities of Gastown, Chinatown, and Yaletown, šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown Elementary currently serves a diverse student population of approximately 420 students in nineteen divisions.  

In March 2020, Crosstown Elementary was gifted the name “šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət”, reflecting Musqueam cultural traditions. At an event commemorating the school’s dual name, šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown Elementary, Larry Grant, a respected Musqueam Elder, shared with the students meaning of the of the name. Listen to Larry Grant share the pronunciation of šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət. He explained that it can generally be translated as ‘the place from which one can catch the tide,’ saying it refers to a way Musqueam people travelled from False Creek to Burrard Inlet, catching the outgoing tide. 

With a school capacity for approximately 500 students, Crosstown is a four-storey facility built into a Residential Tower.  Each floor is comprised of learning studios (classrooms), common learning areas, and communal educator offices.  Larger gathering spaces in the school include: a Library Learning Commons, a Gymnasium, two Multipurpose Rooms, two ‘Outdoor Teaching Green spaces’ accessible from the third and fourth floors, and a ‘Servery’ (fully-equipped teaching kitchen).  

šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown elementary is also home to an on-site Daycare (Vancouver Society of Children’s Centres).  šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown’s playground is shared with the community and is maintained by the Vancouver Parks Board.  The playground is a City of Vancouver public space.  šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown's relationships with community partners are instrumental in creating a safe and welcoming learning environment for our students.