Board of Education Approves Purchase of Promontory Property 

The Chilliwack School District Board of Education unanimously approved the purchase of a 6.8-acre property at 5303 Promontory Road at a Special Regular Board Meeting on Thursday, November 20. 

The district engaged environmental and geotechnical consultants, who carried out detailed site testing and analysis, confirming the site is suitable for a 500-student elementary school.

With school enrolment continuing to grow over the past decade, the district has long looked for property in the Promontory area. The request for funding for a site has been in the district’s 5-year capital plan for over 10 years. 

Promontory Heights Elementary School’s capacity is 580 with a current enrolment of 603. There is no opportunity to expand the existing facility due to site limitations and structural constraints. As of 2025, there are approximately 850 students aged 5-10 years in the Promontory catchment. 

“The Board of Education has heard from the community about the importance of long-term planning to address continued growth in Promontory,” said David Swankey, Board Chair. “Staff worked diligently to bring this opportunity forward for consideration by the Board. The risk of borrowing money to support this property purchase was acknowledged and the Board determined it was measured and proportionate to the opportunity presented. This property and a new school in Promontory are important to the current and future well-being of students in the district.”

This opportunity falls outside the Ministry’s regular funding cycle. The Board is hopeful that the province will cover the cost in the next funding cycle. 

Ministry approvals and funding are required for the construction of the school. A project of this size typically requires one to two years for design and Ministry approval, followed by two to three years of construction before a school is ready to open. 

Since 2018, the Province and Chilliwack School District have added 2,420 new school spaces for students with the opening of Stitó:s Lá:lém Totí:lt Elementary/Middle and Imagine High Integrated Arts and Technology and expansions to G.W. Graham Secondary, Vedder Elementary and Promontory Heights Elementary. Expansions at Sardis Secondary and AD Rundle Middle, and the construction of the new east side elementary school will add 1200 spaces over the next two years.
 

For more information: Decision Report.