School Name History

Location

36321 Vye Road, Abbotsford, BC

Opened

1875, opened as York School; 1889, new building on Fadden Road; 1896 renamed Upper Sumas School; 1910, building moved to new Vye Road site; 2021 renamed Semá:th Elementary

The School

Upper Sumas School, as it was later named, originally opened in 1875 on the Second Wells Ridge at Lampson and Wells Line Roads. At that time, buildings were on ridges to escape the spring floods. The school closed after two years because many settlers moved away after the disastrous floods of 1876. It reopened in 1882. In 1889, Thomas York donated some land at the corner of Fadden and Nelles Roads for a larger school which was named York School. The land was cleared and the school built by volunteers. Most of the students had to walk two or three miles to the school, whatever the weather, although one student from Vedder Mountain sometimes rode a mule.

In 1896 the school was renamed Upper Sumas School. The Upper Sumas area is called that because it is the area surrounding the upper portion of the Sumas River. There used to be a Chilliwack community called Lower Sumas. The school stayed in its location until 1910 when it was sold to a Mr. Fadden. He moved it to his property across the road. Children then learned in the community hall until 1918 when a new four-room school was built on its present location on Vye Road.

The area's population grew after Sumas Lake was drained. To meet the increased demand, two rooms were added in 1927, and four more rooms were added in 1939.

In 1952, Sumas Municipality sold the Agricultural Community Hall property (the hall had burned in 1941) to the Abbotsford School District. The district agreed that a clubroom at Upper Sumas School would be designated for the use of the Upper Sumas Women’s Institute. This room continues to be used by the women. The gym was built in 1960.  

Origin of the Name

Originally, the school was called Sumas Elementary. The name Sumas comes from the Halq’emeylem language word Semá:th meaning big level opening. The school is on the traditional land of the Semá:th or Sumas people who are one of the Stó:lō groups of the First Nations peoples. They traditionally lived on higher ground (Sumas Mountain) but travelled the Sumas Prairie hunting, fishing, and gathering other resources. There was a lake (Sumas Lake) where they met to hold ceremonies and gather resources such as fish, reeds, and ducks. In 2021 the school was renamed Semá:th Elementary to reflect the area’s historical link with the Semá:th people.