A piece of Kitsilano history is being erased as demolition crews tear down Henry Hudson Elementary School, a red-brick landmark that has stood since 1911. The school’s replacement, built next door, now welcomes 341 students, but the old building’s legacy lingers.
The school was named after Henry Hudson, a 17th-century English navigator and explorer best known for his ill-fated Arctic voyages. Hudson never set foot in Vancouver—his closest approach was Hudson Bay, nearly 4,700 kilometers away. His leadership remains controversial, as historical accounts describe him as a headstrong commander who failed to prevent a mutiny that led to his disappearance in 1611.
Henry Hudson Elementary has a storied past, including its brief claim to fame during the First World War when its students earned the title of city rifle champions in 1915 and 1916. Among those on the championship team was Nat Bailey, who later founded White Spot and became a major figure in Canadian baseball.
The school was also attended by Derek and David D’Alton in the 1940s, the young brothers tragically identified decades later as the victims in Vancouver’s infamous “Babes in the Woods” case.
For many Kitsilano residents, memories of Henry Hudson Elementary extend beyond the main brick structure.
A small yellow schoolhouse, built in 1912 as a Manual Training School, once stood beside the primary building. Unlike its larger counterpart, this historic structure avoided demolition and now serves an important cultural role at the Chief Joe Mathias Centre in North Vancouver, where it is used for Squamish Nation language education.
Local historian and author Eve Lazarus recently reflected on the school’s history in a blog post, highlighting its legacy and questioning whether the new school should have reconsidered its name.
While the demolition marks the end of an era, those eager to preserve a piece of history have a final opportunity to collect bricks from the site before the building is gone for good.
Last modified: March 16, 2025
