Dreaming of Spring (Rewrite)

Whitepine History Lesson: James Henry White High School

James Henry White High School began construction in the mid-1870s and was opened in 1882 in classic collegiate Gothic style. Before Whitepine Elementary and Empire Park Junior High, opened in 1899 and 1906, respectively, all grades from K-12 were housed within the James Henry White Academy campus. Which in 1913, was renamed and classified from an Academy to High School. During the Great War from 1914 to 1918, students from the nearby Village of Lions Bay and cities of North Vancouver and West Vancouver would send their children to be safely away from shipping and naval ports, being never too careful for their safety, this would result in the Captain George Vancouver Dormitories to be constructed, started in 1915 but would not see children roam its halls by the end of construction in 1919. Meaning the coming youth would live within the converted gymnasium, housing around 130 bodies.

In April of 1982, in celebration of the Canada Act being passed and the 100th anniversary since James Henry White High's opening and the facilities 100th graduating class, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau would mark the occasion by visiting the grounds to christen the opening of a new building on the grounds, instead of being built in the collegiate style as the rest of the grounds, this new multi-media space, which included a library and would later, into the 2000's and 2010's, would include space for computer rooms, tech and film making option classes, and a world class photography studio, was built in a green architectural style. Using elements of the temperate rainforest that makes up the British Columbian coastal region as inspiration.

Outside of the main entrance is a bronze statue of James Henry White, dressed in his tail coat, knee-length topcoat, and holding a book in his left arm while his right was stretched out in a beckoning call pose, as if to call those in need or want of an education, that he is here to assist. The statue found its place outside the school in 1900, after a petition was submitted to the British Columbian government by parents, teachers, and students to have some kind of monument to a man who did so much for the neighbouring communities.

These days, James Henry White High School is considered one of the top high schools in the province, consistently having students earning the highest grade averages and top graduation percentage, 98.9% of students enrolled graduate, earning the school increased funding year after year.