were taught. In September 1949 classes began in new Industrial Arts facilities which had been added onto the south end of the wartime building to provide shops for electrical, automotive, sheet metal, welding and woodwork plus classrooms and drafting rooms. The enlarged facility was named the F.T. Fairey Technical Unit after Col. F.T. Fairey, the former Deputy Minister of Education, the then-current provincial Director of Industrial and Technical Education and also the Regional Director of the Canadian Vocational Training Program. Fairey Tech immediately became a focal point for technical education in Victoria and beyond, both for daytime and evening adult education classes. Additions were made to the facility In the 1950s, including a much larger auto-shop complex and an electronics shop and classroom. Later renamed the Fairey Technical Centre, in addition to previous disciplines it also housed classes for industrial design, art metal and jewelry, and even dance. The facility was closed in 2011 and replaced with the Fairey Technical Building, a new 57,000 square foot addition to the north side of the main school building. French immersion Vic High offers a French immersion program, functioning as a pathway school for both late immersion and some early immersion students from Central Middle School. Fine arts Vic High offers a fine arts program, including theatre, music, and dance. There is a neighbourhood choir and a Rhythm and Blues Band Athletics The following athletic programs were offered as of the 2017–2018 school year: Badminton Basketball Cross country running Rowing Rugby (Girls and Boys 7's) Soccer Swimming Track and field Volleyball Weight room training Intramural programs: basketball, indoor soccer and ring hockey Athletic accomplishments: 2016–17 AAA Sr Boys Basketball South Island Champions, 2017–18 AAA Sr Girls Volleyball South Island Champions The current athletic director is Erin Finlayson. Weather station Vic High hosts an active weather station as part of the School-Based Weather Station Network, operated as a partnership between the University of Victoria and several school districts to provide state of the art interactive technologies as part of the school's science program. Former principals S. J. Willis Ira Dilworth 1926–1934 Henry L. Smith 1934–1955 H.D. Dee G.A.V. Thompson J.D. (Duncan) Lorimer 1965–1979 Jack (John) Lowther Bill (William) Garner David Watkins 1985–1989 Keith McCallion 1989–1994 Dennis Harrigan 1994–2002 Keith Forshaw 2002–2006 Stephen Bennett 2006–2010 Randi Falls 2010–17 Aaron Parker 2017– Notable alumni Samuel Maclure, architect Simon Fraser Tolmie, premier of British Columbia Byron Ingemar