In response to an appeal by the Conseil scolaire francophone (CSF), the Vancouver School Board (VSB) filed a cross-appeal on July 8, 2025. 

The cross-appeal seeks judicial clarity about Justice Gomery’s direction regarding Laurier Annex. It is important to note that prior to the court proceedings, in March 2024, VSB offered to extend CFS’s lease of Laurier Annex. This would allow CSF to continue using the school while it builds a new one at the Heather Lands site. The cross-appeal also seeks to uphold VSB’s real estate policies to ensure fair and transparent decisions that address current and future student needs. 

VSB was encouraged that the Court recognized its good faith efforts to support French-language education. The Court found that our offer of a 99-year lease for Queen Elizabeth Annex (QEA) was reasonable and met the Board’s obligations under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

The Court also encouraged VSB and CSF to continue working together on the A.R. Lord site, with assistance from the Ministry of Infrastructure. VSB looks forward to these discussions and to improving learning conditions for all students in Vancouver’s northeast. 

VSB has demonstrated a strong commitment to French-language education Charter rights by leasing multiple school sites, including QEA, Laurier Annex, Chief Maquinna Annex and Henderson Annex. While managing facilities for approximately 50,000 students, VSB remains focused on providing safe, accessible and sustainable learning environments for VSB students, balancing these obligations with the needs of the francophone rights holders in Vancouver. 

For more details, read: VSB welcomes Court ruling, reaffirms commitment to French-language education 

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