Steveston-London Secondary School - A Brief History:

Steveston-London Secondary School was formed after the merger of two former outstanding west Richmond high schools. Steveston Junior High School opened in September of 1956 and was home to students in Grades 7, 8 and 9.  Steveston graduated their first class of Grade 12s in 1961 and 2007 marked the 47th and final graduating class at the school.  Charles E. London Elementary School opened in 1965.  In 1974 London became a junior secondary school and, in 1997 the first graduating class was celebrated as all secondary schools in Richmond changed to a Grades 8 to 12 configuration.  2007 marked the 11th and final grad class at London. At their peak, Steveston’s enrollment was over 1750 and over 1150 attended London; however, with enrollment in the area changing and the 50-year old Steveston building in need of significant updating and the two schools only a few hundred meters apart, the Richmond School District decided to add a major addition to the London building that had been completely renovated in 1995, and amalgamate both schools.   Steveston-London Secondary School opened with 1350 students in Grades 8-12 on September 4, 2007. All 58 framed grad composite photographs from Steveston and London continue to hang with honour in the halls of SLSS.

The primary goal of schools is nurturing intellectual development through learning, growth and personal success for students.  Both schools established renowned traditions of academic excellence and every year, Steveston and London students consistently achieved amongst the very highest in the province in Provincial Exams and Advanced Placement Exams and each year scores of students were awarded Ministry of Education and post-secondary scholarships.   More than 17,000 graduates have gone on to live fulfilling and successful lives.

Equally important, Steveston and London students also excelled in many elective programs, extracurricular teams and groups and socially-responsible endeavours. Musical performances were a big part of the school experience, including award winning concert bands, choirs and jazz bands. Live theatre, plays and musicals have been presented for decades, from the 1964 production of Little Women to the 2007 productions of A Christmas Carol and The Wizard of Oz.  Steveston-London’s first performances were The Tempest and the school opened their exciting new 160-seat theatre with the musical Guys and Dolls in May of 2008. The first Steveston yearbook was published in 1960 and both schools created a student annual every year and students can look at the complete collection of old yearbooks in the current school library.  Steveston-London celebrated their first year as SLSS with a collector’s edition, all-colour yearbook. Over five decades of clubs and elective courses provided thousands of students unique ways to learn and be involved.  Steveston’s art, photography, construction & automotive classes and on-site salmon hatchery (built in 1987) saw students create portfolios, construct complete buildings that could be found all over Richmond, troubleshoot and rebuild engines and raise and release salmon.  London’s art careers, aviation and broadcasting programs led the way to careers in art, film, media and every area of aviation, from mechanics to grounds crew to pilots.  At both schools a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities included student councils, grad committees, school newspapers, dance clubs, championship cheerleader squads, chess clubs, U.N. clubs, International Issues & multicultural clubs, projectionists club, future teachers and future nurses club, computer & web site clubs and volunteer groups such as Charles E. Angels and Packers with Pride all helped give students a sense of belonging and purpose.  Students from both schools were involved in exciting travel opportunities (e.g. France, Italy, Japan, Florida, California, etc.) and with many charitable and community events.  It was a tradition at Steveston to raise funds and provide technical expertise to assist the Casa Guatemala Orphanage and many student groups traveled to this orphanage in Guatemala to volunteer their time and complete projects.  London maintained a relationship with a sister school in Wakayama, Japan and for over 30 years, hundreds of students hosted Japanese students from Joto Junior Secondary school or travelled to Japan in alternating years.  This international exchange relationship continues at Steveston-London.

The history of both schools included a proud tradition in athletics.  In 1964 the Steveston Packers won the “Island Championship” in senior boys’ basketball against their archrival Richmond Colts for the fourth consecutive year.  School spirit was very strong and the Packers vs. Colts rivalries continued for decades in basketball and football and any contest between the two schools always drew excited, standing-room only crowds of students, parents and recent alumni of both schools. This was never more evident than in March of 1984 when Steveston defeated Richmond in the BC High School Provincial Senior Boys' Basketball Championship final in front of well over 6500 fans at the PNE Agrodome.  For over 20 years, some of the most notable Steveston Packers athletes learned their skills competing as London Lords (or Hugh Boyd Trojans) from Grades 8 to 10.  The Packers and the London Legends (name changed in 1994-1995) won many Richmond, Lower Mainland and Provincial titles and while the Legends wore blue and green and the Packers wore purple and gold, the Sharks carry on the traditions of athletic excellence while proudly wearing blue and gold!

Both schools developed strong connections to the local community and people growing up in the Steveston and west Richmond areas had a deep attachment to Steveston and London schools for 50 years. Parents were active partners at Steveston and London - from the 173 charter members of the Steveston Junior High Parent-Teacher Association organized on September 17, 1956 to the tremendous support given today by parents in Parent Advisory and School Planning Councils and Dry After Grad.   Parents remain keenly involved in the school and this support helps make Steveston-London a better place to learn and to work. The Steveston High School Alumni Association was formed in 1987 (by members of the class of 1962) and was the first public high school alumni association in Canada.  This group met with some London grads in 2007 and in May of 2008 the organization was officially renamed the Steveston-London Alumni Association and is now open to all former students from any of the Steveston, London and Steveston-London grad classes. It remains very important to our school that all PACKERS, LORDS, LEGENDS and now SHARKS alumni feel that they are a proud part of our school history and community.   You can check out:   www.slssalumni.org  

We are very proud of the histories of Steveston and London and we have used these great traditions to build an even better place for students at Steveston-London Secondary School.   New traditions began with the first ever SLSS graduating class in June of 2008 (and the 59th class in our proud history) and the legacy of excellence will continue with all future grads to follow.  “To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high.”