National

Suspicious fire guts B.C. elementary school, plans underway for students and teachers

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Oct, 2023 10:16 AM

Plans are underway to bring school life back to normal as quickly as possible for students and teachers at a Metro Vancouver elementary school that was destroyed in a suspicious weekend fire.

Coquitlam School District 43 says in a statement to families on its website that plans are in the works to support continued learning for the school community at Hazel Trembath Elementary School in Port Coquitlam.

Coquitlam RCMP say they are investigating a suspicious fire at the school, which was fully engulfed when first responders arrived at the scene early Saturday.

Terrible news this morning of a fire at Hazel Trembath Elementary school in Port Coquitlam this morning. Thank you to firefighters for responding so quickly and ensuring the fire did not spread. We will support school district, parents and students through this difficult time. https://t.co/wrdOowXApD
— Rachna Singh (@RachnaSinghNDP) October 14, 2023

1/I’m absolutely devastated to see the images of Hazel Trembath gone. As a former student myself & the parent of a Grade 1 student there, I know what a special place Hazel is. This is heartbreaking.

I’ve spoken with our Fire Department, our School District & senior city staff. pic.twitter.com/KbP1dtJkng
— Brad West (@BradWestPoCo) October 14, 2023

The RCMP urged the public to avoid the area in and around the school due to potentially hazardous air quality caused by the fire, saying road closures near the school should be expected for several days as the investigation continues.

About 215 students attended Hazel Trembath Elementary School.

The school district statement said "this is very sad news for our students, staff, and school community."

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

How thieves stole a condo in 'total title fraud'

Documents provided by Yu show the home was listed for $978,000 last May 11, then sold for $970,000 nine days later, near the height of the pandemic property boom. Ontario land title documents show ownership was transferred for that sum on June 15 to a new buyer who took out a mortgage with the Bank of Montreal.

How thieves stole a condo in 'total title fraud'

Continent needs strong Canada-Mexico ties: experts

Experts say a stronger bond between Canada and Mexico will be central to advancing North American competitiveness on the international stage. Sen. Peter Boehm, a former Liberal deputy cabinet minister, likens the continent's trilateral ties to an isosceles triangle, with the Canada-Mexico relationship as the shortest side.

Continent needs strong Canada-Mexico ties: experts

Evasive officers prompt police watchdog complaint

In his probe of the arrest last February on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Ronald MacDonald, director of the IIO, says the man had a blood-alcohol level three times above the legal limit when he ran from six officers who tried to arrest him as he threatened them after intervening in an unrelated traffic stop.

Evasive officers prompt police watchdog complaint

Old church in Canada transformed into Sikh temple

An old church has been transformed into a Sikh place of worship -- the first in Canada's Red Deer city after requests from the local Sikh community since 2005. The Cornerstone Gospel Chapel at 5911 63rd Street is now Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, and will open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Old church in Canada transformed into Sikh temple

Anand returns from Ukraine talks without tank deal

The Ukrainian government says it needs tanks to protect its troops and launch counter-offensives against Russian forces, particularly in the eastern part of the country. The Liberal government has not said whether Canada is open to sending some of its German-made Leopard 2 tanks.

Anand returns from Ukraine talks without tank deal

Police to release findings in B.C. bank shootout

A report released last month by B.C.'s police watchdog said officers fired as many as 100 rounds at Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie, who had semi-automatic rifles and were wearing body armour. Six officers were wounded, three of them with life-threatening injuries.