Wednesday October 1, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC [Posted at 11:30 am | Updated 2:04 pm & 8:57 pm | Updated October 2, 2025]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
A new high school in the fast-growing City of Langford has been long on the books. The land was announced a few years ago.
Today the official announcement of the design and construction phase of North Langford Secondary School was held in the gymnasium of Millstream Elementary School in Langford with a gathering of Grade 5 students in the backdrop.
The target opening date for the new high school (Grades 9 to 12) is September 2030 according to a spokesperson at Sooke School District 62 (SD62) (previously announced as opening in September 2032), which Premier David Eby said at the podium that he “feels like just around the corner”.
Indeed, SD62 has developed an internal expertise in developing school facilities, originally politically spurred for the BC NDP government starting in 2017 by a shortfall in schools by the previous BC Liberal government.
North Langford Secondary School will be the second high school in Langford. The current and only high school in Langford is Belmont Secondary School which opened in September 2015 (aka Belmont 2.0 after closing the former original Belmont campus on Jacklin Road where the Belmont Market shopping centre now stands).
In nearby Colwood there is another large high school — Royal Bay Secondary — that opened in September 2015.
Premier David Eby officiated the announcement and took media questions following remarks by local MLA for Langford-Highlands and Forests Minister Ravi Parmar who years ago attended Millstream Elementary and whose political career has been supported by the Langford business and political community.
The new secondary school will create 2,000 spaces, giving students in the region more room to learn close to home. The new Royal Roads University post-secondary campus in Langford is also close by, to provide a continuum of education for students and their families who live in the west shore region (Sooke, Langford, Colwood, Metchosin, Highlands, Juan de Fuca).
The west shore region is fast-growing, with the development of schools needing to keep pace with families moving into the increasing number of homes in Langford, Colwood and Sooke.
“Every student in BC deserves a school that’s safe, welcoming and equipped for innovation,” said Premier David Eby.
“This new secondary school in north Langford means students will be able to learn close to home and shows our government’s commitment to building the infrastructure growing communities need. By building, expanding and upgrading a record number of new schools throughout BC, our government is meeting the needs of students today and into the future,” the premier said.
School features:
The new high school will meet high environmental standards and create a supportive space for student learning and well-being. It will include:
- modern science and computer labs for hands-on learning and exploration;
- a new gym for physical education and school athletics;
- a theatre for drama, music, presentations and the arts;
- efficient electrical systems and an energy-saving design that will produce about 91% fewer carbon emissions than a typical LEED gold-standard building; and
- a parking lot that includes EV-ready spots, making it easier for students and staff who drive electric vehicles.
These spaces will allow students to explore a broad range of electives such as art, foods, music, drama, technology, trades and business classes.
Infrastructure Minister:
“As more families choose to put down roots in Langford, we need to make sure students have the schools they need to grow and thrive,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure in a news release.
“This new secondary school is one of many investments we are making in K-12 schools in the Westshore and will ensure families are supported for generations to come,” said Ma.
Minister Ma and Education and Child Care Minister Bear had visited the west shore in August to announce the opening of a new elementary school in South Langford.
Construction timeline:
The Province is investing nearly $220 million to build the new secondary school, with construction expected to start in 2027 according to an Infrastructure Ministry news release.
“Promise made, promise kept,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Highlands. “We’re delivering a brand-new 2,000-seat secondary school for Langford, the largest investment in education our community has ever seen.”
Largest school on Vancouver Island:
The new North Langford Secondary School will be the largest high school on Vancouver Island. Currently that status belongs to Royal Bay Secondary School in Colwood (which opened in 2015 and was expanded with 600 more seats a few years later).
Since 2017 the Province has committed nearly $515 million in the Sooke School District (SD62), creating 4,660 new spaces for students across the school district. In total, 2,600 new seats have opened since 2017.
Who was there:
In addition to the Premier heading to Langford this morning to lead at the podium, MLAs there were Parmar and also Dana Lajeunesse (Juan de Fuca-Malahat).
Even though the media advisory highlighted the Infrastructure Ministry and that this is an education announcement, neither Bowinn Ma (Infrastructure Minister) nor Lisa Beare (Education and Child Care Minister) were there or even mentioned fo what seemed like a hastily organized press conference.
City of Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson and council members attended, as did former mayor Stew Young and members of the Langford business community including Ron Coutre of the Westshore Developers Association.
SD62 was represented by Board Chair Amanda Dowhy who said the province’s investment in SD62 shows “trust and genuine commitment to students, staff and families” and that the City has helped with school development all along the way by moving projects forward in terms of building permits and occupancy permits.
SD62 administration there today included Superintendent Paul Block, Secretary-Treasurer Brian Jonker, and Deputy Superintendent Monica Braniff.
Other SD62 trustees in attendance today included Cendra Beaton and Trudy Spiller (both elected in the west shore side of the school district). Some former trustees also attended.
===== RELATED:
- How schools get built: dollars, politics and school districts (October 3, 2025)
- Infrastructure & Education ministers attend opening of new SD62 elementary school in Langford (August 27, 2025)
- SD62 gets land for new middle school in North Langford (August 19, 2024)
- Business plan underway for third SD62 west shore high school (May 21, 2024)
- NEWS SECTIONS: SD62 West Shore | 43rd BC PARLIAMENT | West Shore Local