Following an official groundbreaking ceremony on June 3, construction has begun on Sníne elementary, Kamloops’ newest elementary school.
Sníne elementary is being built on 7.8 acres of land in the Pineview Valley neighbourhood, just east of Python Lake. The Ministry of Education and Child Care provided $65.3 million for the project.
Upon its completion, estimated for fall 2026, the school will seat 453 students from kindergarten to Grade 7. The project includes constructing a learning centre the Province says will be used for programs and services such as child care.
“As more cities like Kamloops experience record population growth, our government is continuing to invest in our schools,” said Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care. “I’m proud that we are providing funding for a new elementary school with a neighbourhood learning centre that will benefit students and families in the Pineview Valley area for years to come.”
The new school’s name, Sníne, means owl in Secwepemctsín and reflects the “significance of Secwepemc culture, where the owl symbolizes wisdom and growth in traditional stories.”
According to a release by School District 73, the new school has been a priority since 2014, brought about by “notable enrolment growth and space pressures in nearby schools.”
In February, before the district received funding from the province, a report was presented to SD73’s board of education highlighting the potential challenges that schools in the district could face over the next decade. As per the report, SD73 expects enrolment to go beyond 17,000 students over the next ten years.
“The Kamloops-Thompson School District is growing, and Sníne Elementary is a vital addition to the community. This beautiful new school will create learning opportunities and environments that will inspire students and families to thrive,” said Rhonda Nixon, superintendent of Kamloops-Thompson School District.