A Victoria parent says safety concerns remain after the long-awaited reopening of the Victoria High School track – but the Greater Victoria School District says the facility meets its intended use and reflects student priorities.
The school reopened in April 2024 following nearly four years of seismic upgrades and redevelopment.
Among the revamped outdoor amenities is a two-lane paved loop with painted lines and distance markings – a setup some parents had hoped would be a full track-and-field facility.
Vlasta Booth, who has three children who attended Vic High, said she’s disappointed with what was delivered.
She describes the surface as “basically a cement asphalt surface” with “sharp turns,” and believes it poses a safety risk.
“There are lines painted and distances marked – it’s basically encouraging kids to run here,” she said. “But it’s not safe. Somebody trips, falls – there’s no give.”
Booth outlined several safety concerns in a letter dated June 18.
“The two-lane path fails to meet this basic standard. There is a chain link fence on one side and field light poles on the other that put students and anyone who runs on the path at risk of injury. The sharp corners present additional hazards,” she wrote.
She also raised questions around transparency in the planning process and funding outcomes.
The Greater Victoria School District said a competitive track was considered, but ultimately not feasible within the overall budget for the school’s seismic and facility upgrades.
In 2021, the district said that a new eight-lane track was not recommended as it would’ve likely cost $7 million, while fundraising efforts fell millions short of that figure.
“Building a competitive track at Victoria High School was not possible due to the financial constraints associated with the total seismic upgrade and expansion project,” said the school district. “While we would like to be able to offer all extra-curricular amenity spaces at all schools throughout the district, this is not possible due to financial and physical limitations.”
The district said Vic High’s redevelopment focused on amenities identified as top priorities by students, including a turf field, outdoor volleyball courts, a new theatre, a multi-purpose room, and a neighbourhood learning centre.
“We are very proud of the amenities at Victoria High School, all of which were deemed important by the student body and prioritized during the seismic upgrade and expansion project of the school’s building and property,” they added.
While the current loop is not considered a competition-standard track, the district said it aligns with typical training setups across local schools.
“Throughout the district, student athletes train for cross country and track events under the supervision of a coach, which may take place at the school on a field, turf, in the school neighbourhood, a practice track (asphalt, grass, or other surface), or a competitive track such as the tracks at the University of Victoria or at the Pacific Institute for Sport Education (PISE),” the district said.
For Booth, the concerns extend beyond sport.
“There was such a legacy tied into the original design,” she said. “These kids had a track once, and they don’t anymore.”
The district said it welcomes ongoing input from families and the broader school community.
