Greater Victoria School District & BC Ministry of Education and Childcare

2025 Governors Awards

Victoria High School | Greater Victoria School District

The National Trust for Canada’s Board of Governors have presented the Greater Victoria School District and the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care with a Governors’ Award for their exemplary conservation of Victoria High School.  

Built in 1914, Victoria High School is the oldest public high school in Western Canada and a defining landmark in Victoria’s urban landscape. Facing potential demolition in 2018 due to seismic concerns, the school was saved through a collaborative effort that balanced preservation with innovation. The restoration retained key historic materials, including terracotta, granite, and art glass, while incorporating energy-efficient upgrades that achieved LEED Gold equivalency. 

The project also integrated Indigenous design elements throughout the school, developed in partnership with the Songhees Nation, Esquimalt Nation, Métis Nation of Greater Victoria, and the Urban Peoples House Indigenous Advisory. These elements honour Indigenous voices and reflect a commitment to inclusivity and reconciliation within a heritage context. 

The Governors have chosen to highlight this project as a powerful example of how a community building once on the Endangered Places List can be given a new future through thoughtful rehabilitation—preserving identity, embracing contemporary values, and creating a more resilient, inclusive community.