Headlines from the past is a recurring feature looking back at stories we've covered over the past 40+ years.
The principal of Vanier Elementary School in Coquitlam was thankful her students were enjoying a professional development day the morning after Halloween 2000.
Not only did the day away from school allow the kids to wind down from the excitement of the haunting holiday, her staff was able to help clean up the mess left when vandals smashed 29 windows in the school overnight.
“It’s devastating for staff and students,” said Bennett of the damage.
“The kids can’t understand why older kids aren’t able to be socially responsible.”
Across School District 43 (SD43), more than 100 windows were smashed in elementary schools and a fire was set in a portable at Scott Creek Middle School.
The east wing of Parkland Elementary was particularly hard hit, with liquor bottles and fireworks tossed through 22 smashed windows, resulting in damage to the library, adult ESL, computer and music rooms.
At Nestor Elementary, three planters were smashed and strewn across the school’s front while a special education room at Port Moody Secondary was desecrated with smashed pumpkins.
Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Peter Markgraf said the force recorded 202 calls over Halloween while Port Moody police said the night was “pretty routine.”
The Tri-City News has covered civic affairs, local crime, festivals, events, personalities, sports and arts in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 1983. Bound back issues of the paper are available at the Coquitlam Archives, while digital versions of several past years can be found at issuu.com.
