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Photos + Video: Hazel Trembath will be rebuilt in same spot — Eby

BC Premier David Eby was in Port Coquitlam on Sept. 4, 2024, to open the Tri-City BC NDP campaign office. He also spoke with the "Tri-City News" about Hazel Trembath Elementary and 3030 Gordon Ave.
Janis Cleugh

Hazel Trembath Elementary will be rebuilt and on the same Port Coquitlam property.

That’s the promise Premier David Eby made yesterday, Sept. 4, while opening the Tri-City BC NDP campaign office in the city with three of the five candidates running for election on Saturday, Oct. 19:

  • Jennifer Blatherwick
    • Coquitlam–Maillardville
  • Jodie Wickens
    • Coquitlam–Burke Mountain
  • MLA Rick Glumac
    • Port Moody–Burquitlam

Eby told the Tri-City News after the campaign rally on Westwood Street that his government is “committed” to getting a new school up for the southside PoCo families who saw the School District 43 (SD43) building go up in flames on Oct. 14, 2023.

And he called the learning disruption and school structure loss “tragic” for the community and the students who, for the past year, have bused from Settlers Park to Winslow Centre in Coquitlam, and back, for their education.

Though Eby gave no timeline, his vow to rebuild and keep the school at 1278 Confederation Dr. came a day after the Hazel Trembath PAC executive, parents and students held another rally on the school site to demand action.

As well, Eby told the Tri-City News that, if re-elected, his government will work with Tri-City municipalities to provide more affordable and supportive housing, and will find ways to address the health and safety plight at and around 3030 Gordon Ave., in Coquitlam, a homeless shelter.

Liberal backers

Besides Eby, the campaign rally drew a number of high-profile current and former politicians, including several BC United and federal Liberal supporters soured by the recent turn of events in Victoria and Ottawa.

Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam Liberal MP Ron McKinnon was at the BC NDP office launch, telling the Tri-City News that his party “wants to stand behind progressives […] not go back to the 1950s,” he said, referring to the BC Conservatives, under John Rustad, and the Conservative Party of Canada, under Pierre Poilievre.

McKinnon said federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s move earlier that day to pull the party out of its supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals came as a shock, but he feels it likely won’t trigger a snap election this year (the next federal vote is scheduled for October 2025).

McKinnon’s public backing of BC and federal NDP came as a surprise to Port Moody–Coquitlam NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo, who was also at the campaign office opening along with Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam NDP candidate Laura Dupont.

Still, McKinnon wasn’t the only Grit at the event: Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart, a former BC Liberal MLA, popped in as did Will Davis, a 2021 federal Liberal candidate.

More than 100 people took part in the campaign office celebrations, including:

  • Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West
  • former Vancouver–Mount Pleasant MLA Melanie Mark
  • Coquitlam Coun. Matt Djonlic
  • Port Coquitlam Coun. Glenn Pollock
  • Port Moody Couns. Amy Lubik and Haven Lurbiecki
  • union and multicultural leaders

However, New Westminster–Coquitlam MLA Jennifer Whiteside was not present nor was Port Coquitlam MLA Mike Farnworth — B.C.’s deputy premier who was in Victoria presenting medals on Eby’s behalf.

Stump speech

Using themes similar to the Harris–Walz race in the U.S., with “Fireworks” from The Tragically Hip playing as a wrap-up, Eby stressed the “stark choice” between him and the BC Conservative leader, who on Aug. 28 became the NDP’s main opponent following BC United’s campaign suspension.

“A lot of us expected [BC United leader] Kevin Falcon and John Rustad and all the backroom dealers, the big money interests, to get together, but did anybody expect that they would come together around the most extreme, the most hateful, the most divisive aspects of what used to be their coalition with John Rustad and the BC Conservatives?” Eby asked.

“That was a real surprise when Kevin Falcon folded the tent.”

The premier also contrasted the two parties’ policies, claiming Rustad, if elected, plans to cut $4 billion from healthcare, won’t build affordable housing and will get rid of rent control and the speculation and vacancy tax.

“Can you imagine this?” Eby asked. “A senior that’s in a home they can afford that faces the end of the year and an increase of hundreds, or more than $1,000, a month in costs? It’s happening in Ontario now.”

Do you know what Tri-City electoral district you live in? Check the Elections BC map before you vote next month.

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