Families in Surrey will have 915 more elementary seats in their community as part of the B.C. government’s plan to expand schools quicker.

“We are committed to investing in Surrey so we have the classrooms needed for students, and we are looking at innovative, fast-tracked solutions for how we do it – and we don’t plan to stop,” said Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care. “Over the last seven years, we’ve built and opened over 8,200 new student spaces with nearly 6,800 more on the way. There is more work to do, but we are determined to continue delivering more for families in Surrey.”

Forsyth Road Elementary will receive a 14-classroom prefabricated addition, adding 340 seats to the school, and will include space for child care. George Greenaway Elementary also will get a 14-classroom prefabricated addition, the equivalent of 350 new seats through a new provincial investment of $21 million. City Central Learning Centre will be converted into a new elementary school in Surrey’s City Centre neighbourhood, through a partnership between the Province and the school district, creating 225 elementary seats.

These new projects are part of the government’s ongoing work to deliver new and expanded schools in Surrey over the past seven years. In the past few months, an 800-seat addition was announced for Fleetwood Park Secondary, as well as prefabricated additions for Old Yale Road Elementary, Latimer Road Elementary, William Watson Elementary and Martha Currie Elementary. Construction is underway for the new Snokomish Elementary and Ta’talu Elementary, and additions to Semiahmoo Trail Elementary and South Meridian Elementary. These projects will create more than 3,500 student spaces in Surrey.

“Investments like these three are what our district needs to help keep pace with our rapidly growing student enrolment,” said Laurie Larsen, chair, Surrey Board of Education. “We are committed to continuing to work with the Province to ensure that families who choose Surrey as their home are able to attend their neighbourhood schools, and students and staff have the best environments possible to learn and work in.”

The innovative use of prefabricated construction means the addition at George Greenaway Elementary will be built much quicker than a traditional build, and is expected to be ready in fall 2025. At the City Central Learning Centre, a $635,000 provincial investment, along with a $450,000 investment by the school district, will create these new seats by fall 2025. With sustainable and energy-efficient designs, the addition at Forsyth Road Elementary aligns with the Province’s CleanBC targets and meets B.C.’s enhanced energy requirements. The 14-classroom addition at Forsyth Road Elementary is expected to be ready for students in 2028.

Since September 2017, the B.C. government has approved more than $5 billion for new and improved schools, and land purchases for schools in the province. This has resulted in 37,000 new student spaces and more than 38,000 seismically safer seats at B.C. schools.

Quotes:

Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley –

“This new addition for Forsyth Road Elementary will add classroom spaces that students need in our community. As more families make Surrey home, we’re investing in services where families need them most.”

Mike Starchuk, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale – 

“Schools are at the heart of our neighbourhoods. We are investing in an addition for George Greenaway Elementary to families in our community have the classrooms their kids need now and in the future.”

Harry Bains, MLA for Surrey-Newton –

“Surrey is a wonderful city. As families grow and move into our community, we are making sure students have the classrooms they need. We’re doing this at schools like Tamanawis Secondary, where that expansion will provide Surrey students with a safe, comfortable learning environment for generations to come.”

Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford –

“As more families make Surrey their home, we must build and expand schools to ensure every child receives the quality education they deserve, like the expansion for Guildford Park Secondary. This project will bring much-needed secondary spaces to our community.”

Jagrup Brar, MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood –

“Surrey is welcoming more families into our community, and we must build and expand schools to ensure every student has a safe and supportive learning environment. That’s why we are expanding schools like Woodland Park Elementary, so students have the classrooms they need to learn and grow.”

Jinny Sims, MLA for Surrey-Panorama –

“Surrey is an excellent place to raise a family, which is why so many are choosing to make it their home. We are adding to existing schools and building new schools to address the unprecedented growth in students moving to our city. We are building to make sure our schools are keeping pace and meeting the needs of our students, like at the new Snokomish Elementary opening in 2026.”

Quick Facts:

• Funding for inclusive learning has increased 97% for the Surrey School District since 2017.
• The Surrey School District has received $9.3 million in Student and Family Affordability Funding since it was introduced in 2022.
• The Surrey School District has received $17.6 million in Feeding Futures funding, since it was introduced in 2023, to create and expand school food programs.
• The Province has funded 13 new playgrounds for the Surrey School District since the Playground Equipment Program was introduced in 2018.
• Since 2017, more than 580 full-time-equivalent teachers have been added in the Surrey School District.

More people will have the opportunity to train for in-demand careers, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists and midwives, at a new state-of-the-art University of British Columbia (UBC) facility in Surrey.

“Our Province is focused on training more people for good-paying, in-demand health-care jobs in their communities,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “By supporting UBC’s new training space in Surrey, we’re delivering more physical therapists, occupational therapists and midwives to care for people in our province today and for years to come.”

The new space provides a collaborative, state-of-the-art learning environment for students, faculty, clinical teachers and staff. The facility is located on the second floor of the City Centre 1 building in Surrey, adjacent to Surrey Memorial Hospital.

As of this month, 88 students are based in the new facility, with annual intakes of 20 master of physical therapy students, 16 master of occupational therapy students and eight midwifery students to serve fast-growing communities.

The recently renovated space provides a collaborative learning and teaching environment for students, faculty and clinical teachers across the three programs.

“Our government is taking significant action to create more training spaces for allied health professionals to meet the growing demand for high-quality health-care services in B.C.,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “By investing in this new modern training facility in Surrey, we can attract more young people and health-care workers to choose a rewarding career in the health sector that they want while ensuring their future patients receive the care they need.”

The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art teaching and research laboratories, seminar rooms and student common areas, as well as multi-purpose spaces for assessment, treatment and health promotion within the community.

The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills provided $24.9 million in capital costs for the new facility. This is in addition to more than $4 million in startup funding between the three programs, provided in partnership with the Ministry of Health, and ongoing targeted operating funding.

“We’re thrilled to have UBC’s physical therapy, occupational therapy and midwifery students in the Fraser region together under one roof for the first time,” said Dr. Roger Wong, vice-dean, education, UBC faculty of medicine. “By creating more opportunities for students to learn closer to home in a collaborative environment, we’re building a future health-care workforce that will improve community access and care for people living in the Fraser for years to come.”

Training more allied health-care workers is part of B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy, which focuses on 70 key actions to recruit, train and retain health-care workers in the province, while redesigning the health-care system to foster workplace satisfaction and innovation.

Through the StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan, the Province is making education and training more accessible, affordable and relevant to help prepare the people of B.C. for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Quotes:

Rachna Singh, MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers, and Minister of Education and Child Care –

“We know that Surrey and the Fraser Valley are growing quickly. That’s why our Province is investing in more health-care training opportunities for people in the region, helping them train for their careers close to home.”

Karn Athwal, second-year UBC occupational therapy student –

“It’s been an incredible privilege to be part of UBC’s first occupational therapy program in the Fraser, learning in a newly designed, modern facility alongside our health-care peers in physical therapy and midwifery. The new facility and program are empowering us with the expertise, skills and confidence to drive transformative change in health care, but also creating new opportunities for students to grow within their communities, making a lasting impact now and for years to come.”

Quick Facts:

• Physical therapists, occupational therapists and midwives are part of B.C.’s health-care workforce.
• Occupational therapists help people whose capabilities have been impaired by illness, injury, developmental disorders, emotional or psychological disorders, and aging.
• Physiotherapists plan and put treatment programs in place for patients to maintain, improve or rebuild physical ability, ease pain and prevent physical problems.
• Registered midwives provide primary maternity care to healthy pregnant clients and their newborn babies through low-risk pregnancy, labour and birth, until about six weeks after the birth.

Access to affordable, quality, and inclusive child care is expanding for families in Richmond as 220 new licensed child care spaces open.

“More families in Richmond will have access to affordable, quality and inclusive child care conveniently located on school grounds, which benefits children, families and the entire community,” said Mitzi Dean, B.C. Minister of State for Child Care. “Parents have told us they want more child care on school grounds and we are delivering.”

These new child care spaces in Richmond were made possible through more than $8.2 million from ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund, which is supported by provincial investments and federal funding under the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

“These new spots will make a significant difference for families in Richmond, providing them with the affordable and flexible support they need while giving children the best possible start in life,” said Jenna Sudds, federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. “We will keep working hard to create more spots to get kids off wait lists and into high-quality, affordable child care close to home.”

The Province partnered with the Richmond school district to open four new child care centres on school grounds, which will create 220 new spaces, including eight spaces for infant-toddlers, 100 spaces for children 30 months to kindergarten age, 112 spaces for school-age care. Government is working to create child care where families need it most, including on school grounds or at other locations, that fit in with parents’ busy lives.

“In Richmond, we understand the importance of nurturing our youngest learners from the very beginning,” said Heather Larson, chair, SD38. “The creation of these new child care spaces is a testament to our commitment to supporting families. Together, we are building a brighter future for all in our community.”

Since 2018, ChildCareBC accelerated space creation programs have helped fund the creation of more than 39,000 new licensed child care spaces in B.C. Of these, more than 11,900 are thanks in part to the 2021-22 to 2025-26 Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

Quotes:

Aman Singh, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough –

“These 220 new child care spaces will make life easier for Richmond families. Parents can focus on their goals, knowing their kids are well cared for. It is a practical step that supports working families and strengthens our community.”

Kelly Greene, MLA for Richmond-Steveston –

“Increased access to child care brings more peace of mind to families and support for our community. It’s a real help for families managing work and home life, while ensuring their children are in a safe space.”

Henry Yao, MLA for Richmond South Centre –

“I know how vital it is for children to have a consistent, caring environment. These new child care spaces provide stability, helping kids thrive while making life easier for their families.”

Parm Bains, MP for Steveston-Richmond East –

“The 220 child care spaces in Richmond, supported by the federal Early Learning and Childcare Infrastructure Fund, is a great example of working together and getting things done. All levels of government working with local school districts ensures that children across our communities have access to the quality of early learning and child care they deserve.”

Wilson Miao, MP for Richmond Centre –

“With 220 spaces more in Richmond, our federal government is making real, impactful changes for parents to help them save thousands of dollars each year per child. Our affordable child care policy is an economic policy for parents, particularly mothers, to participate fully in the workforce, supporting their careers, while ensuring their children the best possible start in life.”

Women and their children leaving gender-based violence in Terrace now have access to 22 second-stage homes with the opening of Ella’s Place.

“The homes at Ella’s Place are a welcome addition to the Terrace community so women and their children have a safe place to turn to in a crisis,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “These new units are part of the work we’re doing to provide people with a continuum of safe and stable accommodation with resources to support them to move into more permanent and long-term housing.”

The Province, through BC Housing, partnered with ‘Ksan Society to build Ella’s Place, a second-stage housing building. The three-storey wood-frame building has a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The development will include a secure green space and play area for families.

“Ella’s Place will provide women and their children with the necessary supports and stability to live safe and fulfilling lives within the community,” said Amanda Owens, executive director of ‘Ksan Society. “This type of temporary accommodation is one important step toward securing that stability and agency.”

Second-stage housing provides short-term accommodation with on-site supports for women, gender-diverse people, and their dependent children leaving violence. It is also open to women in recovery. The project will provide women the opportunity to seamlessly transition from temporary transition housing to second-stage homes. Residents can stay in second-stage housing for approximately six to 18 months before moving to more permanent housing in the community.

“Women and their children should never have to worry about finding a place to turn to when they leave an abusive situation,” said Nathan Cullen, MLA for Stikine. “Our government is proud to help open this building, the first of its kind in Terrace, to ensure women and children have secure, affordable housing, as well as support and programming to help them make decisions about their future.”

’Ksan Society will manage the building and provide supports to residents, such as crisis and emotional support, safety planning and life-skills training.

This project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 80,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway, including 375 homes in Terrace.

MSM Group, in partnership with the BC-India Business Network (BC-IBN), hosted a successful media round table on “International Education & Brand Canada.” The event was co-hosted by MSM Group’s CEO Dr. Raghwa Gopal, and CIO Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan and guests were welcomed by BC-IBN’s Founder, Dr. Vivek Savkur. The event brought together over 15 prominent South Asian media leaders.

The discussion focused on the current state of international education in Canada, its impact on “Brand Canada,” the geopolitical factors at play and related matters. The discussion included the short—and long-term implications, collective strategies to promote relevant and positive information about Canada as an education destination, the critical importance of international education and the contributions of international students to the Canadian economy and society at large.

The action-oriented discussion culminated with few important calls for action:

– make reliable and good information available to prospective students and their families in their country of origin

– have pre-arrival and post-arrival supports in place for international students to maximize their chances to succeed in Canada

– foster greater collaboration between sectors, partners and stakeholders who are part of and/or connected to the international education ecosystem

– encourage transparent and open dialogue about serious problems and work together to find meaningful solutions that address the root causes of problems

Media Participants

The event featured media leaders from Asian Journal, Asian Star, Canada Tabloid, Darpan Magazine, Drishti Magazine, Entertainment Magazine, Leader Now Newspaper, Link Newspaper, Red FM, Times of Canada, and VOICE Newspaper.

Appeal and Impact of International Students in Canada

Canada is a top choice for international students due to its quality education, safety, respect for diversity, work options, and pathways to careers and permanent residency. Over the past decade, international student numbers have surged, with a 43% increase in the last five years and a 170% increase over the last decade. These students contribute more than $22 billion annually to the economy and support over 370,000 jobs.

Challenges and the Way Forward

Despite the growth, resources have not always kept pace, leading to concerns about ethics, compliance, and student exploitation. The recent reforms announced by the Canadian government aim to address these issues.

Dr. Gopal highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating, “Together, with our partners and stakeholders, we will overcome challenges and uphold Canada’s reputation as a premier destination for world-class education. By collaborating, we can ensure that Canada remains a welcoming and top-tier choice for international students, strengthening Brand Canada globally.”

Ms. Jaya-Madhavan committed that the dialogue initiated by MSM Group today will continue and the future sessions will include invitations to senior government officials, student and organizational leaders across Canada.

About MSM Group

MSM Group is a pioneering force in global innovation and excellence, dedicated to transforming industries through cutting-edge solutions and impactful partnerships. Since its inception, MSM Group has established itself as a leader in education and business operations, driven by its commitment to fostering growth and success worldwide. Our dynamic ecosystem is centered around three key verticals:

MSM Unify leverages AI-driven technology to connect students, institutions, businesses, and governments.

Innivec is a network of top educational institutions across Canada offering high-quality, industry-relevant education

Q Academy focuses on upskilling through intensive online training in digital economy skills and vocational education.

Together, these verticals exemplify our mission to empower individuals and organizations through education and skill development, paving the way for a brighter, more connected future.

Contact – sobhana.jm@msquare.media