Port Coquitlam will waive any municipal fees for School District 43 (SD43) and B.C.'s Ministry of Education to rebuild Hazel Trembath Elementary.
Mayor Brad West made the motion, which was unanimously backed by councillors, at the committee of council meeting held yesterday, Oct. 17, to help the school get back up at the Confederation Drive site. The school burned down on Oct. 14.
Coquitlam RCMP told the Tri-City News that the suspicious blaze remains under investigation and an update is expected for this or next week.
West, a Hazel Trembath alumnus whose son attends Grade 1 at the school, said he and council are directing city staff to make the rebuild a priority.
His motion came as the city hosted a Hazel Trembath Day today, Oct. 18, at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre and Terry Fox Library to offer relief to the 215 students, as well as teachers and staff, and to reconnect following the traumatic event.
Some 10 classrooms are now being converted at Winslow Centre in Coquitlam to prepare for the student cohort over the next academic year — or longer.
At the committee meeting, Mayor West acknowledged the 39 firefighters who doused the flames on the "significant and devastating fire," and the emergency personnel.
Fire crews were on scene within minutes of being notified and “did everything in their power to try to combat the fire,” he said.
"It was one of those fires where we really didn't have a chance."
Still, the mayor, who lives near the school, praised teachers for reaching out to their students after the school was destroyed. On Sunday, Oct. 15, the day after the blaze, the teacher for West's son, Liam, arranged to meet the kids at the Castle Park playground.
West called the Hazel Trembath teachers "heroes" for their efforts in addressing the students’ concerns and for making their temporary classrooms feel normal.
"You think about the range of emotions that they’re going through," he said of the teachers, noting how they "pour their heart and soul" into making their classrooms feel welcoming and inclusive.
"To lose that, it's devastating."
And the mayor also praised the community for rallying and fundraising, and city staff for “making a difficult situation a little bit better” with today’s special activity day at the rec centre.
Coun. Darrell Penner said PoCo would be stepping up to the plate to assist with any school after a loss.
"A disaster like this has affected the whole city," added Coun. Nancy McCurrach, noting students, teachers and staff have also re-emerged from the three-year pandemic.
She suggested the city or others post banners with messages of support around Hazel Trembath Elementary.
"I'm sorry it happened. It never should have happened," she said.
School Meeting
Meanwhile, SD43 spokesperson Ken Hoff told the Tri-City News today that a meeting for the parents of Hazel Trembath Elementary is planned for Friday, Oct. 20, at 2:30 p.m. in the Castle Park Elementary gym.
The gathering is to talk about the transition to Winslow Centre, including busing to and from the Coquitlam hub, the layout of Winslow, the STEAM lab, outdoor spaces, before- and after-school care and a future open house at the Winslow site.
How can I help?
1. SD43 Education Foundation: sd43foundation.org/make-a-donation (tax receipts issued)
2. GoFundMe: gofundme.com/f/the-staff-and-students-of-hazel-trembath?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook (via teacher Leah Michele, with proceeds to Hazel Trembath Elementary PAC)
3. City of Port Coquitlam has launched a school supplies drive until Oct. 31.
Residents can drop off the following items at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (2150 Wilson Ave.), at the Hyde Creek Recreation Complex (1379 Laurier Ave.) or at city hall (2580 Shaughnessy St.):
- Staplers
- Clipboards
- Dry erase markers
- Poster board
- Sticky Post-It notes
- Writing instruments (pencils, highlighters, pens or markers and erasers)
- Art supplies (construction paper, crayons and glue)
- Games
- Notebooks
- Calculators
- Lined paper
- New or gently used books (suitable for primary aged pupils, K-Grade 5)
What is not accepted:
- Food or canned goods
- Gift cards
- Monetary donations
- Clothing
Anyone with information about the fire at Hazel Trembath Elementary on Oct. 14, 2023, is asked to contact the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2023-27725.
