Image: Chilliwack Middle School

By Mike Vanden Bosch

French Immersion in Chilliwack

French Immersion could be shifted away from Chilliwack Middle School

Nov 12, 2025 | 9:06 AM

CHILLIWACK — Due to a significant increase in enrolment over the past five years, SD33 is considering changes to schools and programs throughout the district, one of which could see the French Immersion program shifted away from Chilliwack Middle School.

According to the text of a letter sent to Chilliwack Middle School parents, and provided to Fraser Valley Today by SD33, the Chilliwack School District has grown from 13,344 students in 2020 to 15,198 students this year. District officials expect enrolment to continually increase, raising concerns that SD33 will face imbalanced enrolment and overcrowded schools if left unchecked.

“When schools are overfull, it can impact students’ opportunities and access to spaces,” the district wrote in its letter to parents.

At a public Board of Education meeting in the new year, SD33 staff will make recommendations to the Board of Education on how to balance long-term enrolment and school capacity.

One of the district’s recommendations to address potential overcrowding will be to move the district French Immersion program from Chilliwack Middle School to what is now Rosedale Traditional Community School in the 2027-2028 school year.

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The district says its staff have met with many school communities to explore possible changes.

“In the interim, we took time to get further information from some school communities,” the text of the letter to parents read. “We were able to connect with the Board of Education to review the ‘What We Heard Report’ in early fall.”

Staff will also recommend that the Board of Education direct staff to conduct a formal consultation to hear from school communities, as per Policy 660. The consultation period will be for 60 days, the letter said.

Within the formal consultation period, school district personnel intend to release detailed information including growth projections, what changes are proposed, why the changes are being proposed, and frequently asked questions.

The district says parents will have opportunities to share their feedback in person, in writing, and online.

The consultation period is expected to begin in February 2026. Once the consultation period closes, the Board of Education will consider all feedback and decide how to proceed.

The district expects a decision will be made by June 2026.