Neighbour Relations

What YHS has to offer

Since 1932, York House School has provided an exceptional education for girls. We instill in each student the confidence and belief that girls can do anything! Passionate and engaging teachers and diverse and innovative programs ensure that our students are challenged and have the opportunity to discover their unique talents and interests.

YHS Programs

Academics, athletics, service, and the fine arts are the foundation of learning at York House School. Rigorous and innovative programs and experiences enable students to acquire the knowledge, and build the character and the competencies needed to become bold leaders and ethical global citizens. YHS is committed to preparing our students for their post-secondary studies as well as for life beyond our doors.

Student Life

Our co-curricular programs provide experiential and transformational learning opportunities. A dynamic and flexible learning environment provides diverse opportunities for students to pursue their individual interests and passions. We provide personalized support for students to learn in their own way; offer personal counselling, and give guidance when students are ready to explore their post-secondary studies and career opportunities.

The school uses a framework, known as the Operations Management Plan (OMP), to guide how it relates to the surrounding community, communicates effectively with its neighbours, and resolves issues. This also includes the school’s transportation management and facilities use plans. The OMP is regularly reviewed and updated as needed by the YHS Board of Governor’s Neighbour Committee.

YHS Board's Neighbour Committee

The YHS Board’s Neighbour Committee (NC) works with a Neighbour Relations Committee (NRC) to communicate school initiatives and activities, as well as hear feedback, questions and concerns from residents. The NRC is composed of up to six residents in the neighbourhood, members of the YHS administration and members of the YHS Board’s NC. Meetings are held twice a year or as needed. They can be requested by the school or residents who are members of the NRC.

Proactive Traffic Management

Recent initiatives such as a communications program started in 2019 to improve awareness in the YHS community of safety and traffic measures and go beyond regular, written communications and verbal reminders by traffic guards, including both parent volunteers and paid, contracted staff.
A series of videos and programs highlighted and rewarded desirable practices, including best ways to be cautious when exiting cars on Granville Street and staying out of laneways and driveways. Watch "Traffic Duty 101" and "Traffic Do's and Don'ts".
Other initiatives include working with the Vancouver Police Department to offer teaching workshops for parents who volunteer to do traffic duty. Parents and guardians who drop off and pick up students are asked to follow this traffic safety plan, which shows a loop and drop off areas.
Future plans include updating a survey of the school community for traffic management purposes. YHS aims to reduce the number of student and staff private vehicle trips by running shuttle services and promoting alternate modes of travel with subsidized bus passes. It also encourages and has seen rising use of other modes such as walking, carpooling, and biking.

Neighbour Concerns

Neighbours are encouraged to contact the YHS Neighbour Liaison on an individual basis with any questions or concerns regarding the school’s operations. Kelly Walker Schobel, Director of Communications and Marketing, can be reached at [email protected].

She will receive, record, and respond to the neighbours’ concern as soon as possible or within two days. All neighbours are required to provide their name, home address, email and/or daytime telephone number to the Neighbour Liaison for follow up.

If the concern is regarding an illegally parked car, neighbours are encouraged to report the vehicle directly to the City of Vancouver’s parking enforcement office at 604-257-8727 for prompt action.

If the concern involves a moving vehicle, such one doing an illegal u-turn or speeding, neighbours are encouraged to contact the Vancouver Police Department’s non-emergency line at 604-717-3321.