The Land We're On Prior to 1894 

The land on which our school was built has a long history. Prior to the arrival of the Hudson's Bay Company and European settlers, the area surrounding Strawberry Vale School was inhabited, used, and cared for by the Lekwungen Peoples (also known as the Songhees & Esquimalt). This map (below) shows their traditional territory. Like us, the Lekwungen lived, learned, worked, and played in and among the trees, bushes and waterways of what we now call Strawberry Vale. 

To learn more about the Lekwungen Peoples, click here and go  www.songheesnation.ca & www.esquimaltnation.ca

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This is Charles Dodd. Charles was a officer of the Hudson's Bay Company. He bought 262 acres from the company and started Strawberry Hill farm. Before Charles died in 1860, he leased and sold parts of his land to other settlers and farmers like JD Gillie. Gille's farm was in operation around the time the Gille kids, Marjorie and Ken, started going to the first Strawberry Vale School. 

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128 Years of school and counting...

1893-1913

1913 -1951

1951-1996

1996-Now