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JOHN O’FEE -- School Enrolment Data Showing Interesting Trends ... down in Metro Vancouver – up in Kamloops and BC interior


Parents fully understand that children bring us both great joy and great expense.  While the happiness vastly outweighs the cost, money is not something that can be ignored.

For most families shelter costs account for the biggest share of the household budget.  When shelter becomes less affordable, families vote with their feet to find decent housing at an affordable price.

This phenomena reveals itself in school enrollment figures.

As housing prices climb, we would expect families with school aged children to seek more affordable options.  With even basic family housing above a million dollars per unit in Vancouver, it should come as no surprise that school enrollment numbers are dropping there.  Over the past year Vancouver schools saw a decline in enrollment of nearly 200 students. 


Contrast this with a much smaller population like Kamloops, and the difference becomes stark.  Enrollment within our school district climbed 235 students in the same period.

Districts immediately adjacent to Vancouver are fairing no better with virtually no growth in enrollment.

If we were to combine Vancouver with Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Richmond, North Vancouver and West Vancouver, we have a net aggregate resident population of about 1.4 million people facing an overall enrollment decline of about 50 students.

Once we move out to the relatively affordable Fraser Valley, enrollment is growing substantially.  Cities like Kamloops, Vernon and Kelowna are also seeing significant growth.

One can reasonably view the flight of families from a community as a sign of long-term trouble.  Likewise, the influx of new families to a school district points to sustainable growth.  As young families move to places like Kamloops and set down roots, they are less likely to leave as they are reluctant to disrupt their family again.

Growth creates its own share of headaches, and parents would rather not see their children placed in a portable classroom.  Our district faces significant capital challenges and needs money for expansion and new schools around Kamloops.

Valleyview Secondary will soon see a major expansion, and Westsyde Elementary is re-opening.  However, Westmount school needs new space along with a school in Pineview Valley to help with the pressure at McGowan Park.

At the same time, growing enrollment means new employment opportunities for teachers, and healthy populations to support youth recreational groups.  It means families are fueling new home construction and the many positive economic spinoffs that come with growth.

As a community we should view growing school enrollment as a positive indicator that people are choosing our community for its relative affordability and quality of
life.

A few short-term headaches to be sure, but this trend bodes well for Kamloops’ future.


ABOUT JOHN O’FEE:
Kamloops native John O’Fee graduated from the University of British Columbia receiving degrees in Commerce and Law.   On retuning to his home town John established a law practice focussing on real estate development, corporate transactions, wills and estates.  

John also served three terms as a Kamloops school trustee and 11 years on Kamloops city council before leaving private legal practice in 2011 to become CEO of the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc (Kamloops Indian Band).  A sessional teaching role in TRU’s School of Business and Economics lead to a full-time faculty in 2014 teaching courses in real estate, commercial law and employment law. 

John is a past chair of the Interior Health Authority, former board member of the Provincial Health Services Authority, the TRU foundation and the Municipal Finance Authority.  John serves as a board member and panel chair for the Health Professions Review Board of British Columbia and a Kamloops Thompson School Trustee. 

John has been recognized as a distinguished Alumnus of Thompson Rivers University in 1995, selected for a BC Community Achievement Award in 2011, designated as Queen’s Counsel in December 2015 and received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018.

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