History

Our deep roots

Celebrating our

Legacy
1956
Haney-Pitt Meadows Christian School​ is Born

Haney-Pitt Meadows Christian School (now Maple Ridge Christian School) started in 1956 with just 28 students and two teachers: a married couple Mr. and Mrs. Ayers, who were dedicated to providing a safe environment for students where students can grow in their faith and education.

Maple Ridge Christian School was first called Haney-Pitt Meadows Christian School. It started with two classrooms, grades 1-7 in the basement of the old Maple Ridge Christian Reformed Church at Dewdney Trunk Road and 5th Avenue (now 216 Street).

1957
Second Building

The school started as an idea from a group of Dutch Christian immigrants in the early 1950s. It moved to a new building at McNeil and Harris Road in Pitt Meadows were it remained for four years. Enrolment at the time was 38 students.

1956-59
A Vision for Faith and Education

HPMCS’ first classes were taught by Mr. Ayers and Mrs. Ayers.

1959-60
HPMCS Moves

Haney-Pitt Meadow Christian School moved to its new permanent location where we remain today.

The building was once part of the old Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver, and was moved by truck, loaded on a barge, floated up the Fraser River to Harris Road (Pitt Meadows), moved to our current site.

1959
Calf Club

The “Calf Club” fundraiser was started with HPMCS society members donating $880 (approximately $9,300 today) to buy calves and pigs, placing them on various farms to be raised and sold. The purpose of the club was to pay off the school loan. They raised $22,864 from 1959-1974 before the club was disbanded.

1961
A Permanent Home

On November 17, 1961, our present school building officially opened as a grades 1-7 school with kindergarten added in 1983.

1988
Rapid Growth

HPMCS/MRCS grew at a fast pace. During this time, the provincial government changed policies to help fund Christian schools to make Christian education more affordable.

In 1988, the ground breaking ceremony took place for the first phase of  school expansion, including more classrooms, admin space, a gym and a library. As these building phases were completed from 1988-1992, the old building that was used for almost 30 years was removed. 
1990-92
Building Expansion

In November 1990, Phase Two of the building project was complete. The third phase of the building project was approved in the spring of 1992 and completed for occupation that fall. The enrolment was over 250 students.

1994-2001
Becoming a K to Grade 12 School

1994 marked the Grade 8 program being introduced, 1998 the Grade 9 program, 1999 the Grade 10, 2000 the Grade 11, and 2001 the Grade 12, completing our school as a K-12 Christian program.