The Story of WPGA

In 1995, friends Andrew Chan and Dr. Peter K. Wong set out to build a new kind of school on Vancouver’s west side: a place that would nurture not just the mind but the whole child. Andrew’s vision, which Peter soon embraced and helped to advance, was for a community where confidence, curiosity, and compassion could thrive alongside academic achievement.

 

What began as a simple conversation quickly grew into a unified mission: to create a coeducational school that celebrated learning as a lifelong, joyful journey. Andrew and Peter believed deeply that education should prepare young people to navigate the world with integrity, empathy, and an open mind.

As their vision evolved, collaboration became the driving force. Phone calls turned into meetings, ideas into plans, and a small but determined team came together. Andrew led the search for a campus and a founding Head, drawing on his St. George’s alumni network to bring the dream closer to reality. His connections led to Clive Austin, a respected educator known for his commitment to children’s growth, who would become WPGA’s inaugural Head of School.

Andrew stewarded the project’s financing, while Peter managed the Jericho Land lease negotiations, Headship contract, operating budget, and implementation plan. Andrew enlisted Michael Choi for specialized financial and securities insight and Clifford Mirikitani for investment expertise. Peter assembled a team of professionals—architects, engineers, and financial experts including Raymond Kwan, Jack Siu, Ronald Khoo, Raymond Yue, and Peter Tsang. Together with Clive Austin, the group coordinated every detail needed to open the school in September 1996.

That September, their bold idea became a vibrant reality. The founders had hoped to welcome 150 students; instead, 325 children walked through the doors, ready to learn in “the little school with a big vision.” Within five years, WPGA had matured into a JK–12 community, graduating its first class in 2001.