Matthew McNair Secondary School first opened in September 1971 as the third senior secondary school for the city of Richmond.  The school is named after Matthew McNair (1889 to 1971), a pioneer farmer and businessman who, in 1911, settled in Richmond where he established a milk delivery service. The motto, "McNair, A Caring Community" is reflected in the inclusive school environment.  McNair has been recognized for its outstanding Performing Arts - Theatre and Music. The school offers many opportunities for a wide range of learners. Specialized programs such as Culinary Arts Cafeteria, Auto-Apprenticeship Program, Integrated Academics, and McNair Mini-School allow students to have a diverse and enriched education.  The McNair Marlins have established a rich history and developed a legacy of excellence - in the classroom, on the playing fields, and in fine and performing arts.

McNair Secondary is a culturally and socio-economically diverse population of 815 students. The student population includes 142 students who receive English Language Learning support (Levels 1 through 5), 87 students who are identified on the Ministry 1701 form as Special Needs students and 17 Aboriginal students. Tne International Student program enrolls 116 students.  School demographics as reported in the Ministry of Education School Data Summary Report (April 2016) indicates that of the 50% of students whose home language is not English, the most commonly spoken languages are Punjabi (9.5%), Mandarin (10.3%), Cantonese (7.5%), and Tagalog (6.3%).

Why Matthew McNair Secondary School

• Course variety: McNair Secondary School offers unique programs and courses, including Mini School- enrichment program, Culinary Arts Training, Environmental Science, Strings Orchestra, Concert Band and Jazz Band, Directing and Scriptwriting, Auto mechanics, Stagecraft/Theatre Production, Numerous A.P. programs are offered with high enrollment, including AP Calculus and Chemistry, and Languages – Mandarin 9-12, Spanish 9-12, French 8-12.
• Extracurricular activities: McNair Secondary School has many opportunities for students to get involved, from Music (McNair has a flourishing music program that includes choir, band, and concert based extracurricular programs) to Sports (Soccer, Rugby, Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Golf, Track and Field, Badminton) and Clubs (Student Council, Grad Council, Athletic Council, Marlinaires, ME to WE Council, Sporadical (McNair's Newspaper), Art Club, Dance Team, Yearbook Committee, Eco-Marlins).

ACCOMMODATION (Students 13+)

Accommodation, whether arranged privately or through the Richmond International Education (RIE) homestay program, is a crucial part of the international education experience. A homestay family is the main student support outside school and is responsible for assisting the student in all aspects of their life in Canada.  RIE offers an excellent, in house homestay program coordinated by RIE staff; however, students may live with families outside of the RIE homestay program provided they meet RIE homestay standards. Students can expect a range of accommodation options in the city of Richmond, from single family homes to townhouses and new condos.