School Yard Memories

General Currie Heritage School
Richmond, British Columbia

General Currie Heritage School/Richmond Retired Teachers' Association Heritage Committee Location: The City of Richmond is located in the southwest corner of the lower mainland on Canada's Pacific Coast, in the province of British Columbia. Richmond is a unique island city, favorably located within the Greater Vancouver Regional District in close proximity to downtown Vancouver and the U.S.A. border. It comprises a series of islands in the mouth of the Fraser River, including Sea Island, most of Lulu Island and fifteen much smaller islands. Geography: 49.25° 10' 59.1" N latitude 123.25° 8' 0.7" W longitude Average Elevation: 1 metre above sea level Early History: The history of education in Richmond goes back to 1877 with the organization of the North Arm School District. Early school classes were held in make-do spaces, such as the first town hall, the Opera House (Steveston), the local ice-cream parlour and wharf buildings; as well as churches and private homes. Early school jurisdictions in Richmond were the Lulu, the English, the Steveston and the Sea Island districts. In 1906, the Provincial School Act amalgamated these districts into one, School District 38 (Richmond). Project History: The Richmond Retired Teachers' Association shares the use of General Currie Heritage School building, where the RRTA Heritage Committee is gathering, preserving and presenting artifacts and memorabilia of Richmond's educational history. The RRTA Heritage Committee (aka: General Currie Heritage School) has undertaken this VMC Community Memories project as an important part of its overall program. This Schoolyard Memories exhibit has been made up from generous contributions by the families of Richmond pioneers, retired teachers and the Richmond City Archives.