Education in the Fraser Valley has a rich history, spanning back over one hundred years, as the initial Abbotsford School opened in 1908. Mt. Lehman Elementary school only had two classrooms initially, so it was quickly expanded on in 1912 to double in size to allow for more students to attend. Throughout the 1910s and 20s, various other elementary schools were constructed such as North Poplar Elementary, Bradner Elementary, and Sumas Elementary School, and education was becoming a staple to the local communities [1] .
Mount Lehman Elementary School and its pupils in 1905.
As immigration and the population of Abbotsford and the surrounding communities of Sumas and Matsqui grew, so did the demand for a high school. By 1925, there was lots of pushing from the communities of Sumas and Abbotsford for a new high school to be built. In 1929, Sumas-Abbotsford High school opened, and it was a sight to behold according to an edition of the Abbotsford, Sumas, and Matsqui News. The article states “that those who have not yet inspected the school will find it well worth a visit”[2]. This school was responsible for housing all the students from Sumas, Abbotsford, and the surrounding communities, so it is not surprising that the local press was so ready to brag about their new school, as it is was considered one of the best in the province, and better then schools that were in big cities like Vancouver or Victoria. As the 1930’s began, the evolution of a small two-room schoolhouse in Mt. Lehman to many separate schools, including a high school, with a proportionally large student body can be seen. This new school had the capacity for eighty students and three teachers (Mr. Topper, the Principle, Ms. Ethel Berry, second division, and Ms. Alida McRae, third division). In terms of educational advances, the Sumas-Abbotsford High offered some classes that offered a more practical learning experience at school, such as a metal and wood shop for the boys and home economics and foods classes for the girls. This school put the small village of Abbotsford on the map in the educational landscape.
References
[1] Patrick Penner, PHOTOS: Top 5 Oldest Schools in Abbotsford, The Abbotsford News, February 2020.
[2] Abbotsford, Sumas, Matsqui News, $20,000 High School Opens on Tuesday, 1930.