Rick Hansen Secondary School (Abbotsford)

Rick Hansen Secondary School
Address
Map
31150 Blueridge Dr

Abbotsford
,
British Columbia
,
V2T 5R2

Canada
Coordinates49°04′02″N 122°21′42″W / 49.0672°N 122.3617°W / 49.0672; -122.3617
Information
School typePublic, high school
Motto"Be The Best You Can Be"
OpenedSeptember 22, 1993
School districtSchool District 34 Abbotsford
School number3434052
PrincipalJaimie Webster
Staff72
Grades9-12
Enrollment900-1000 (2022-2023)
LanguageEnglish
Colour(s)Navy Blue, Gold, and White
     
MascotSt. Elmo
Team nameHurricanes
Communities servedTownline Hill
Websiterickhansen.abbyschools.ca

Rick Hansen Secondary is a public high school in the neighborhood of Townline Hill, located in the west part of Abbotsford, British Columbia. It is part of School District 34 Abbotsford.

Rick Hansen Secondary School (RHSS) is named after Rick Hansen, an athlete who won all-star awards in five sports when he was paralyzed at the age of 15 after being thrown from the back of a truck. He subsequently became a paraplegic athlete and activist for people with spinal cord injuries. The school usually takes in graduates from the nearby Eugene Reimer Middle School, and serves a predominantly Desi & South East Asian community.

In 2015–2016, the school suspended many of its programs such as various clubs, sports teams, concert band and its cafeteria due to the low number of students. The school saw record low enrolment as recent as 2016 and 2017, where it dropped to 591 students, compared to 938 in 2007.[1][2]

On October 19, 2020, a student collapsed and died following a medical incident in class.[3]

The school is a sister school to Rick Hansen Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario.

School of Business & Science

In 2015, the school opened B.C.’s "first science and business school." Eligible students were able to earn college-level credits, attend college lectures, and take internships to gain experience.[4]

Athletics

The school has teams in football, rugby union, wrestling, ultimate frisbee, basketball, volleyball, track and field, cross country running and soccer.

  • 2018 Grade 9 boys Basketball Provincial Champions
  • 2017 Provincial AAA Sr. Boys Basketball Champions
  • 2004 AAA Football Provincial Champions
  • 2004 Provincial Boys Wrestling Champions
  • 2006 Provincial Boys Wrestling Champions
  • 2011 Provincial Boys Wrestling Champions
  • 2012 provincial Boys Wrestling Champions

Controversies

Rick Hansen Secondary is much known in Abbotsford for its apparent gang and drug problem, however this is highly disputed.[2] The school is most notable for incidents such as when in March 2011, 3 students set fire to various towel dispensers in the school's bathrooms.[5] Another incident includes when in October 2013, a 17-year-old student was assaulted with a collapsible baton in the boys’ locker room by another 16-year-old student.[6]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Home". Rick Hansen Secondary. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  2. ^ a b Bathe, Anita. "Parents blame gang conflict for enrolment drop at Abbotsford, B.C. high school". AbbyNews.
  3. ^ "Grief counsellors sent to Abbotsford school after student's death". British Columbia. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  4. ^ "Home". Abbotsford School District. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  5. ^ Hopes, Vikki. "Three students fined for arson at Rick Hansen Secondary will not be criminally charged". AbbyNews.
  6. ^ Butler, Alex. "Abbotsford student assaulted with a baton at school". AbbyNews.