Breaking Ground

On June 14, the GNS community gathered to commemorate the beginning of the Beach Drive Campus Transformation. After short addresses by Head of School Dr. Glenn Zederayko and GNS Society Chair Chris Denford, the shovels hit the dirt. Luckily, Mrs. Edson’s kindergarten was on hand to supervise the important event, hard hats and all! Dr. Z and Mr. Denford were joined by Doug Easton, the Chair of the GNS Foundation, Hamish Simpson, a former Head of School, and Jean Bigelow, Junior School Principal, to officially break ground at the soon-to-be construction site. In addition to students, alumni, parents, faculty and friends of Glenlyon Norfolk School, Oak Bay Mayor, Nils Jensen and Leader of the BC Green Party and former parent, Andrew Weaver, also attended the ceremony. Afterward, the Junior School and its guests celebrated the beginning of the summer with a hot dog BBQ.

The sod-turning signified the beginning of the first phase of construction on the new, revitalized Beach Drive Campus. This stage includes the creation of a new Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten complex, an update of the original Rattenbury Boathouse to ensure its long-term preservation as the home of the schoolwide Marine Adventure Program, and the installation of temporary modern, spacious Learning Pavilions that will let GNS maintain enrolment levels throughout the construction process.