Province commits $39M to rebuild fire-destroyed Port Coquitlam school by 2027

Families in Port Coquitlam, B.C., finally received the news they’ve been waiting for: the province will rebuild Hazel Trembath Elementary School, which burned down in October 2023, with the new facility slated to open by December 2027.

The $39-million project, announced Friday by the provincial government, will include a 240-seat school with two kindergarten classrooms, eight elementary classrooms, and a neighbourhood learning centre designed to accommodate future child-care spaces.

The province says the new facility will feature energy-efficient design and a high-efficiency heat pump that will cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 50 per cent.

Construction is expected to begin in July 2026, using a hybrid of prefabricated and traditional methods — an approach that officials say will make Hazel Trembath the first school in B.C. built this way and allow completion a full school year earlier than usual.

“After the loss of Hazel Trembath Elementary in our community, we know the rebuild can't come quickly enough for families,” said Port Coquitlam MLA and cabinet minister Mike Farnworth. “Our government is working urgently to deliver a new school that will welcome students back as soon as possible.”

Community reaction

The announcement came just hours before parents, students, and community members were set to hold a rally at the site of the old school — a gravel field on Confederation Drive — to protest what they viewed as government inaction.

Instead, the event is now being reframed as a moment of celebration.

“The board of education and Hazel Trembath community are thrilled that funding has been approved,” said Michael Thomas, chair of the Port Coquitlam Board of Education, thanking the province, city council, and families for their persistence in “bringing Hazel Trembath home.”

Mayor Brad West, a former student of the school, also joined in welcoming the announcement, calling it a long-overdue commitment to the city’s children.

Background

The October 2023 fire that destroyed Hazel Trembath Elementary was deemed “human caused and criminal in nature” by police, though no charges have been laid. The loss displaced hundreds of students, forcing them to attend other schools in the district.

After the blaze, the Coquitlam School District initially said a rebuild could take three years — unless an expedited process was approved.

Friday’s announcement confirms that an accelerated plan is moving ahead, with Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma praising the innovative construction approach as a model for future school projects.

“We know that the loss of Hazel Trembath Elementary has deeply impacted parents, students, teachers and staff,” Ma said. “This first-in-B.C. approach will expedite construction and speed up the delivery of this new school for families.”

By 2027, the province says, students will finally return to a new, modern, and safer Hazel Trembath Elementary — a symbol of resilience for the Port Coquitlam community.