Dismantling of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in northeastern British Columbia commenced on Monday following a tragic incident earlier this year.
In February, a devastating mass shooting at the school resulted in the loss of five children and one education assistant, marking it as one of Canada’s deadliest shootings.
Over the past few weeks, crews have been relocating the school’s contents using concealed trucks in preparation for its demolition.
“This signifies a significant step in the systematic and phased deconstruction of the existing school, a process anticipated to span a few more weeks,” stated Christy Fennell, superintendent of School District 59, in a letter to the community.
Post the removal of the building, efforts will continue through autumn to re-establish the site with grass.
The school district has emphasized that the demolition will be executed in phases to minimize disruption.
Debris from the demolition will be transported to regional landfills to uphold community privacy.
In a recent announcement, Premier David Eby pledged to expedite the construction of a new school at a yet-to-be-disclosed location.
Both federal and provincial governments have allocated $200 million for the development of the new school and enhancements to the local health center.
The town of Tumbler Ridge, which accommodates around 2,400 residents, had approximately 160 students from grades 7 to 12 enrolled at the secondary school, which also housed a college campus.