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Downtown catchment review

The Coal Harbour neighbourhood is getting a new school that will help meet the growing enrolment demand in downtown Vancouver. Initial enrolment planning has been undertaken, and the catchment boundaries in the downtown area need to be updated to effectively plan for future years.

Administrative Procedure (AP) 305 — School Catchment Boundaries — sets the guidelines for creating or changing catchments.

Until the school in Coal Harbour opens, students that are assigned to the school are temporary located at Lord Roberts Elementary and Lord Roberts Annex. Currently, schools in the downtown area include one secondary school (King George) and four K-7 elementary schools (Lord Roberts, Roberts Elementary, Elsie Roy, šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown, and the new school in Coal Harbour.)

On September 17, 2025, staff will present potential catchment options at the Facilities Planning Committee – online materials are already available here. Several factors have been considered in the creation of these options, and are guided by AP 305. This includes: 

  • Population and capacity –enrolment pressures in the downtown continue to exceed the operating capacity. The catchment options consider the schools’ operating capacity and where families reside. 
  • Natural boundaries – For downtown schools, the peninsula is bounded by English Bay, False Creek, Coal Harbour and Stanley Park.
  • Walking distances – The catchment options consider suitable walking paths for families and students, as well as barriers and neighbourhood composition. 
  • Neighbourhood connectivity - The City of Vancouver has identified several sub areas and community plans in the downtown core. The catchment options consider how residents relate to these neighbourhoods and sub-areas.
  • Student safety – The catchment options consider major roads, bike lanes and crossings in the downtown core. 

Current Catchment and Options A, B, and C

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For a detailed analysis of the catchment options, please read the report.  

Please note that the figures in the diagram show an average (2020-2024) for K-7 all program VSB enrolment residing in catchment boundaries. This is used as a way to provide a high-level estimation of a maximum capacity utilization and to describe the general magnitude of the catchment area in terms of in-catchment VSB students). 


Engagement opportunities

We want to hear from you to help inform a decision on these changes in the coming weeks!   Engagement with the impacted school communities will take place in October and will include in-person events as well as an online survey.  

  1. Public engagement sessions 

    These are drop-in events. You can look at the different catchment options and talk to staff if you have questions. After reviewing the options, you can fill out a short survey to share your thoughts and say which option you like best.

    • Public engagement at Elsie Roy Elementary: 
      • Oct 7, 2025, 3:00 – 7:00 
      • 150 Drake Street, Vancouver, V6Z 2X1 
      • School Gymnasium 
    •  Public engagement at šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown Elementary:  
      • Oct 8, 2025, 3:00 – 7:00 
      • 55 Expo Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6B 0P8 
      • School Gymnasium 
    • Public engagement Meeting at Lord Roberts Elementary:  
      • Oct 9, 2025, 3:00 – 7:00 
      • 1100 Bidwell St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2K4 
      • School Gymnasium  
  2. Survey
    • Live from October 7 to 17 (survey will close at 11:59pm)
  3. Email feedback 

More details about engagement opportunities will be shared in the coming weeks including all information materials being available online. Information will also be sent directly to all downtown schools impacted (Lord Roberts, Elsie Roy, šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət Crosstown). 

Timing

It is important for the Board to be able to make a decision on a new catchment at its public meeting on November 26, 2025 so families registering for kindergarten know their options. Kindergarten registration begins in November and ends on January 31, 2026.

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