Elementary and secondary education is free in Canada.

Children start elementary school in September of the year that they turn 5. They start in Kindergarten and then do grades 1 to 7 in elementary school. For grades 8 to 12 they move to secondary, or high school. They usually graduate in the year they turn 18.

There are many education options after high school – whether you’re upgrading skills, learning English, training for a career or taking an academic program.

Online training and education

Online distance and supported open learning (this is also called distributed learning) is a great option if you can’t afford to take time out of work for full-time study.

Search CoursesBC to explore online courses offered by B.C.’s post-secondary schools.

Athabasca University, Canada’s Open University, works to make university-level programs available to adult learners worldwide. See: AthabascaUniversity

TRU: see details of online and distance education at Thompson Rivers University

Vocational and Workplace Training

WorkBC is a government website with lots of information on starting your career, upgrading skills, financing your education, employment programs, post-secondary education: WorkBC Education and Training.

LearnLiveBC – post secondary has a searchable database with links to many post-secondary colleges.

See WorkBC Trades training for a list of public institutions offering Trades training.

Another option may be a private institution. In BC, private career training is regulated. Any institution offering a career training program with tuition of $1,000 or more and 40 hours or more in duration is required to register and keep to basic education standards. For a searchable database of schools and programs, check out PCTIA BC

WorkBC offers programs such as Skills Connect for Immigrants, Targeted Skills Shortage Program, and Encore Employment Project for workers age 50+. The nearest office is in Squamish.

• BC Post-Secondary Education

• LearnLiveBC – post secondary has a searchable database with links to many post-secondary colleges etc.

• Canlearn.ca – a useful government website with information on education savings for your child, planning for post-secondary education, student loans, grants and scholarships, and continuing education.

Children between the ages of five and 16 must attend school if they live in British Columbia. School is free for children who are residents of B.C. If you are not resident you can still attend school but you must pay. It is necessary for the parent or legal guardian to go to the school when registering a student in BC and present the following original documentation:

1. proof of British Columbia residency

2. the student’s official birth certificate

3. applicable Immigration / Citizenship / Permanent Resident documentation

4. the student’s last report card, if available

5. legal guardian document, if applicable

6. immunization records, if available

Children usually start school in September of the year that they turn 5 years old. A BC resident student who wishes to enroll in a public school may register at the student’s catchment school. Catchment school means the school that is assigned to homes in a specific neighborhood. For more information on when and where to register your child for school, phone the school district office at 604-892-5228.

There are 4 public schools in Whistler; 3 elementary schools and one secondary school. The school your child goes to depends on where you live and how old your child is.

Elementary Schools:

Myrtle Philip Community School: Kindergarten (age 5) – Grade 7. Located in Whistler Cay, on Lorimer Road. Public School for students living on the West side of Highway 99 from Blueberry and north, and on the East side of Highway 99, for students living north of Spruce Grove. Phone: 604-932-5321 Fax: 604-938-1238 Website: http://sd48myrtlephilip.org

Spring Creek Community School: Kindergarten (age 5) – Grade 7. Located in Spring Creek. Public School for students living on the west side of Highway 99, living on Westside Road, plus students living south of Blueberry, and on the east side of Highway 99, those living from Spruce Grove and south. Spring Creek offers late French Immersion from Grade 5. Which any child from any neighborhood can attend. Phone: 604-935-3822 Fax: 604-935-3872 Website: https://sd48ecolespringcreek.org/

Ecole la Passerelle: Kindergarten (age 5) – Grade 7. This is a public French school for children with French-speaking parents. It is located at 1509 Spring Creek Drive, in the same building as Spring Creek Community School. Children from any neighborhood can attend this school. Website http://passerelle.csf.bc.ca/.

Secondary School:

Whistler Secondary Community School: Grade 8-12 – Public School for students in all areas of Whistler. Phone: 604-905-2581 Fax: 604-905-2583

Website: http://sd48whistlersecondary.org

For public school location, directions and contact information see: https://sd48seatosky.org/

Other Schools in Whistler:

Whistler Waldorf: Whistler Waldorf School is a fully accredited independent school (fee paying) for children from preschool to Grade 12. (You can apply for funding from the government). Website www.whistlerwaldorf.com .

There are free school buses to all the public schools. There is a bus for any student within the school catchment area that is more than 2km from the school.

Ecole la Passerelle students can get a bus from all neighborhoods, and any student in French Immersion at Spring Creek can also take these buses.

For school bus routes and times www.sd48seatosky.org Click on Whistler area bus routes

Signal Hill Elementary School – 1410 Pemberton Portage Road, 604-894-6378

Pemberton Secondary School – 1400 Oak Street, 604-894-6318

Coast Mountain Outdoor School – 9471 Hurley River, 604-894-6382

L’Ecole La Vallee De Pemberton – 1410 Pemberton Portage Road, 604-932-9602