Sometimes it takes a while to settle on just the right name.
East Vancouver School
East Vancouver School opened in 1895. There was not even a building so the school was held in a store owned by Peter Dubois. Mr. Dubois needed his store back so the school was moved to the home of Mr. John Connan.
Finally in 1896 a school building was constructed at the corner Joyce and Westminster Road (later Kingsway). This was a one room school with all elementary grades together. By 1901 there were 63 students, in two divisions and by 1907 there was a third division added. The third division had their classes in the Methodist Church until a new class room could be added to the school.
Collingwood Heights School
In 1908 a new four room, two story, wood frame, school building was built next to the original school and it was given the new name, Collingwood Heights School. One year later they had to double the size of the school by building another four class rooms.
Sir Guy Carlton Elementary School
In 1910 they built a third school building next to the first two. This one was made of brick and looked really impressive. Also in 1910 the Municipality of South Vancouver had a contest for suggestions to name all the schools.
The winner suggested that schools should be named for famous Canadians. So, in 1911, Collingwood Heights School became Sir Guy Carleton School. Sir Guy was a British soldier who became the Governor of British North America (Canada before Canada) from 1786 to 1796.
There were still more students going to school and in 1912 they added two wings to the brick school building to make room for everyone.
All of these buildings are still standing on the grounds of Carleton School. The little East Vancouver School has been moved to the south west corner of the grounds and after serving as Carleton Hall for many years is now the home of the Green Thumb Theatre. It also happens to be the oldest existing Vancouver school building.
The Renfrew - Collingwood Heritage Online Archive 