Stuart Wood Elementary School

Kamloops’ first public school was built in 1886 on the site of the old courthouse. The first teacher was E. Stuart Wood. A few years later, in 1892, a second wood frame school was built on the 3rd Avenue and St. Paul Street site. Stuart Wood taught at the new school as well.

Kamloops’ population continued to grow so much that it wasn’t long until yet another school was needed to replace the wood one. In 1907, a magnificent brick building was erected by a local contractor using local brick. Stuart Wood taught in this new school and served as principal, too. He retired in 1910. In 1922, the school was named Stuart Wood School in honour of the long-time teacher.

The school was designed in a Neoclassical style to underline the important place education holds in society. The columns on the front north entrance distinguish the school as a “temple of knowledge”. The elementary grades met on the first two floors. The high school grades met on the top floor until 1913.