Mount Benson Elementary School

Enrolment History

Mount Benson's Enrolment tells us its own history of the Neighbourhood.

Text Timeline

Pictoral timeline

1875-1950 : Wellington (Elementary) Public School

From 1875 to 1942 Wellington Elementary Public School was part of Wellington School District. Enrollment for this time period of the school's history has not been been researched yet. Enrollment was strong in the early years. In 1875 the school inspector reported 90 "scolars" when he inspected a Wellington school the day before Wellington Public School was opened. By the 1890s Wellington had grown to 5,000 residents and was the second largest city on Vancouver Island. (After Victoria) This was followed by a dramatic decline in enrolment as the population plunged following the mine closure and subsequent town fire.

1943-1944 : Wellington Public School - Athletic Centre

No enrolment - School Teacher shortages due to WWII are catalyst for school and school district closures. Wellington Community conerts school into an athletic centre during the closure. Children bussed to Nanaimo.

1944-1949 : Wellington (Elementary) Public School

No enrolment. School burns to ground in 1944 and is fire is scandalously tied to school consolidationists. Wellington is the first of the 3 schools burned to be rebuilt.

1950-> : Mount Benson Elementary School

New Wellington Elementary school is renamed Mount Benson.

YearEnrollmentNotes
1950111School Opens with a new name - 3 Classrooms
19511114th Classroom Added
1952111
1953119
1954114
1955139
1956113
1957154School overflows into Wellington Hall
19581493 more classrooms added and a small gym (7 Classrooms)
1959157
1960169
1961202
1962202
1963218
1964288
1965240
1966243Addition: Library and a classroom. (8 Classrooms)
1967283
1968271
1969310Pleasant Valley Elementary is Opened (PV Kindergarteners at Mount Benson (possibly in Wellington Hall))
1970311(Pleasant Valley Kindergarteners at Mount Benson (possibly in Wellington Hall))
1971257
1972246
1973272
1974277
1975286
1976266
1977235
1978230
1979212
1980251
1981276
1982288
1983298
1984294
1985312
1986326New Gym, change rooms and Multi-purpose Room.
Old gym renovated and converted into 2 more classrooms.(10 Classrooms)
1987312
1988316
1989316
1990375
1991394
1992@345(Doest Not Include Kindergarten)
1993@350(Doest Not Include Kindergarten)
1994@345(Doest Not Include Kindergarten)
1995@360(Doest Not Include Kindergarten) --Addition and Renovation: New Library is built, Computer Lab is created, office moved to a renovated classroom at front of school.
1996@255(Doest Not Include Kindergarten) - Coal Tyee is opened in Northfield to relieve pressure on Mount Benson.
1997@240(Doest Not Include Kindergarten)
1998@238(Doest Not Include Kindergarten)
1999@260(Doest Not Include Kindergarten)
2000@245(Doest Not Include Kindergarten) - 100 student expansion is listed on Ministry Capital plans for 00/01
2001@230(Doest Not Include Kindergarten)
20022302 Classroom expansion approved by Ministry.
Classrooms to be placed adjacent to new gym and multi-purpose room.
2003212
2004208The new gym is seismically upgraded
2005185
2006167
2007169

Credits

Thank you to the community members who have provided historical information and details, as well as to the Nanaimo Community Archives.

Site Map
Mount Benson Elementary School
4355 Jingle Pot Road, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 5P4, Canada - (250) 758-1536