B.C. Premier David Eby continued his tour of the Central Okanagan on Thursday morning, April 9, as he toured the construction site of the future George Pringle Secondary School in West Kelowna.
The morning stop was for Eby to highlight the importance of schools not only in the Central Okanagan, but across the province.
“Our kids deserve the best in this province,” said Eby. “High quality places to learn are essential, that in increasingly hot temperatures, that they’re climate controlled, that they’re accessible to all kids and that they have the latest in technology so that our kids can succeed and prosper in the challenging world that we face.”
Formerly an elementary school, the reincarnation will be a secondary school (Grade 9-12) and is slated to open in September 2027. Construction on the new school began in the fall of 2024.
Eby said 1,200 students will be attendance the school, which will close a number of portables at middle schools and “take pressure off of those schools.” The school will also feature two gyms, a theatre, an Indigenous gathering space, and much more.
“Not only will this be a new school community but it will be a continuation of the Pringle tradition here in the neighbourhood which is a wonderful thing,” said Eby.
The Premier said that 4,400 new seats have been brought to Okanagan schools, totalling a commitment of $400 million. But he knows more needs to be done.
“We know the work’s not done yet,” said Eby. “A regular target of advocacy by the school board, by teachers here around other schools that need attention and that’s why our government is committed to keep building.”
He added that as a government, it is trying to recognize the communities across the province that are growing quickly, noting the growth and demand across the Okanagan.
Eby also said that when he attended the recent BC Teachers Federation meeting, a teacher from Rutland approached him asking some “very pressing questions” about the state of the schools in the neighbourhood. He reiterated that the job’s not done.
“This will not be an issue that we’re able to resolve overnight,” said Eby. “We had almost 20 years of a real gap in capital investment in our schools under previous administrations and we are playing catch up. We’re playing catch up with the schools we already have, as well as remarkable population growth that we’ve seen over the last couple of years under federal immigration policy, as well as people choosing to live in beautiful communities like the Okanagan.”
Central Okanagan Public Schools (SD23) has additions to both Rutland Middle School and Rutland Secondary in its 2026-27 capital plan summary.
“We know that our kids deserve it and we’re going to continue to partner with the Central Okanagan School Board here to make sure that that happens,” Eby added.