Pre-colonization
B.C.’s First Nations practice
informal learning by doing
for millennia prior to
contact with Europeans.
1849
Vancouver Island
becomes a British colony
and its first school opens
in Fort Victoria.
1850
The colony’s first governor,
James Douglas, makes 14
land purchases from the
island’s Indigenous people.
1853
HBC employs a second
schoolmaster for the
children of employees
in Nanaimo.
1854-55
Craigflower School is built
near the Gorge waterway
outside Fort Victoria for the
children of farm employees.
1859
Victoria’s colonial
government assumes
responsibility for schooling
on Vancouver Island.
1862
The mainland colony
at New Westminster
opens its first school.
1865
The Colonial
Legislature passes the
first Free School Act
1866
The colony of Vancouver Island
merges with the mainland
colony of British Columbia
1867
Canada becomes
a nation.
1871
British Columbia joins Confederation.
1872
The provincial government assumes responsibility for supporting public schooling.
1873
Superintendent Jessop departs on his first school inspection tour.
1875
The first brick school in the province—Victoria Central—is built, replacing an earlier log structure.
1876
Victoria High School is the first high school in the West.
1880
Indigenous children are removed from their homes and families and sent to residential schools.
1883
Colin Campbell McKenzie becomes our second superintendent of education.
1890
Agnes Deans Cameron becomes the first female high school teacher in B.C.
1892
James Baker is our province’s first minister of education.
1899
Alexander Robinson becomes provincial superintendent of schools.
1901
The Vancouver Provincial Normal School is established.
1903
Calls are expressed about the need to amalgamate rural school districts.
1908
S.J. Willis is appointed as principal of Victoria High School. He is later a superintendent
and deputy minister of education.
1911
Margaret Strong is appointed as a principal in New Westminster: she later becomes our first female school inspector.
1913
J.B. DeLong begins his long career as a school inspector.
1919
The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation is founded.
1920
B.C.’s Education Office is recognized as a “depart- ment” of government.
1925
J.H. Putman and G.W. Weir’s survey of provincial schools
is published.
1928
Lottie Bowron is appointed as a women’s welfare officer.
1929
The Wall Street Crash signals the beginning of the 10-year Great Depression.
1932
There are 830 school districts in B.C.
1935
H.B. King is appointed technical advisor to the minister of education. In 1939 he is appointed chief inspector of schools.
1946-47
B.C.’s 800+ school districts are consoli- dated into 89 larger districts.
1958
The position of school inspector is replaced by government- appointed district superintendents.
1960
The British Columbia Royal Commission on Education is released. Residential schools begin to close.
1963
An article in The B.C. Teacher calls for provisions for maternity leave.
1965
Frank Levirs is made superintendent of education.
1969
Frances Fleming becomes the first female administrator in a Vancouver secondary school.
1970-71
The provincial education budget equals the entire provincial budget of nine years earlier.
1974
The government grants seven of the province’s 75 school districts permission to hire school leaders of their choice.
1975
The Nisga’a School District is created.
1977
The provincial government develops a learning assessment program.
1978
The special program branch of the Ministry of Education is reorganized to facilitate disabled children being integrated into schools.
1980
The School Act Regulations are amended to permit all school boards with enrollment of more than 250 students to appoint a local superintendent of schools.
1984
Provincial exams are
re-introduced.
1985
Education Minister Jack Heinrich establishes a provincial school review committee.
1988
A Royal Commission on Education produces its report: A Legacy for Learners.
1989
The government launches an ambitious school reform initiative: the Year 2000 program.
1994
The last of the provin-cially employed district superintendents retires.
1995
The Year 2000 program is cancelled.
2005
A First Nations Education Action Plan envi- sions the development and implementation of sustainable education systems under the full control and jurisdiction of First Nations.
2006
The Assembly of First Nations calls on the federal government to address the First Nations’ education crisis.
2009
The B.C. Ministry of Education, the Vancouver School Board, UBC, the Musqueam Nation, the Métis Nation, Coast Salish Nations, and the Urban Aboriginal People sign the Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement.
2010
The Assembly of First Nations launches a national call to action on education.