Students at Millstream Elementary School got an exciting glimpse of the future with the announcement of a new secondary school planned for north Langford.
Premier David Eby confirmed the new 2,000-seat school will be called North Langford Secondary School. It will be the largest secondary school on Vancouver Island and is designed to address overcrowding in one of B.C.’s fastest-growing communities.
Sooke School District superintendent Paul Block welcomed the news. He said the district has struggled to keep up with rapid population growth.
“I’m relieved,” Block said. “We’ve been advocating for this for almost five years. We’ve had to bus kids from the Highlands and north Langford to several schools. Belmont is full, and many students go to Royal Bay, which puts real pressure on kids and families.”
Block added that the new school will help build a north Langford “family” within the school district, complementing existing communities at Belmont, Royal Bay, and Edward Milne.
“This allows us to think about how we’re going to reorganize and reshape all of north Langford to be a family within our district,” he said.
The new facility will also reduce pressure on staff and students. “If you’ve seen the hallways at Belmont, you know how crowded they are. This is about giving kids an environment where they can flourish,” Block said.
The province is investing nearly $220 million in the project. The school, expected to open in 2030, will meet high environmental standards and is designed to produce approximately 91 per cent fewer carbon emissions than a typical LEED gold-standard building.
Plans include science and computer labs, a gym, a theatre, and a parking lot with EV-ready spaces. The design also supports a wide range of electives, from arts and trades to business and technology. Construction is set to begin in 2026.
Sooke school board chair Amanda Dowhy called the announcement a historic milestone. She spoke directly to Grade 5 students who are expected to graduate in 2033.
“You are our future, and today’s announcement is a commitment to you that we will continue to support your learning and dreams as you grow,” Dowhy said.
Since 2017, the province has invested nearly $515 million in the Sooke School District, creating 4,660 new student spaces, including 2,600 already open.
Langford-Highlands MLA Ravi Parmar, a Millstream graduate, called the new school the largest investment in education the community has ever seen.
A lighter moment came with the school’s location, directly across from a Costco. Parmar joked about negotiating for cheaper hot dogs for students. “Right now, 50 cents was the bargain I was hoping to get. We’re still working on that – stay tuned,” he said.
The announcement marks a major step in addressing educational needs for north Langford and ensures the growing community will have modern facilities to support its students for decades to come.
