Classes for students displaced by the weekend fire at Westmount Elementary will resume Wednesday, with the Kamloops-Thompson School District confirming a three-school relocation plan while repairs and safety testing continue at the damaged North Kamloops school.
Under the district’s plan, Westmount’s 11 classes will be divided among Kay Bingham, Parkcrest, and George Hilliard Elementary schools.
- Kay Bingham Elementary will host five classes
- Parkcrest Elementary will host three classes
- George Hilliard Elementary will host three classes
“We’ve been very intentional about keeping grade cohorts together and ensuring every student stays with their teacher,” said Principal Stiles during a late Monday afternoon press conference. “Counselling and other supports will be available to help students adjust to the transition.”
Classes paused until Wednesday as staff prepare
Superintendent Mike McKay said the district had hoped to resume classes earlier but decided to take an extra day to ensure the move goes smoothly.
“When we gathered this morning and looked at the progress of plans, it was clear that for us to get to the right place—so kids and staff are safe and well accommodated—it would be Wednesday,” McKay said. “We didn’t want to go in with a plan that wasn’t fully developed.”
Families will receive direct communication from the school Monday night detailing which classes will attend which host school and how transportation will operate.
McKay noted that many Westmount students have never taken a school bus before, so the district’s transportation team is arranging routes and supports to make that process easier.
Assessments underway, timeline uncertain for reopening
While the immediate focus is on student learning, the district says it is too early to know when Westmount Elementary will reopen.
“We don’t know yet,” McKay said. “Specialists are doing air quality testing, checking for water penetration and smoke damage, and assessing material mitigation strategies. We have to make sure the space is completely safe before anyone goes back in.”
Those assessments will continue through the week and will determine the extent of the remediation work required.
Secretary-Treasurer Harold Cull said the district has already initiated an insurance claim through the provincial School Protection Program, which will cover repairs once the full damage assessment is complete.
“A remarkable effort by staff”
District officials praised Westmount’s teachers and support staff for their collaboration and resilience since the fire.
McKay said school and district teams met multiple times Sunday to finalize relocation details and to ensure students will remain connected with their teachers and peers.
“This is a staff deeply committed to doing what’s right for kids,” McKay said. “They’ve worked tirelessly to make sure students feel supported as they transition to new schools.”
Board Chair Heather Grieve said the district’s parent advisory council has also been supportive. “Of all the imperfect options, this was the best path forward,” she said, adding that the district will continue to consult with families as the process unfolds.
Investigation continues into likely arson
Kamloops RCMP have confirmed the fire is being treated as arson and continue to investigate.
“It appears there was someone on the roof of the school when the fire broke out,” said Staff Sergeant Chris Kienzle. “The fire is believed to be intentionally set, and our investigation is ongoing.”
RCMP are asking anyone with information or video footage from the early morning hours of Sunday, Oct. 26 near Westmount Elementary to contact the Kamloops detachment at 250-828-3000 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
“We empathize deeply with the kids”
Board Chair Grieve said she understands the frustration and anxiety some students are feeling about the disruption.
“The fact that a student is angry and wants to be back in school says so much about the staff at Westmount,” she said. “We empathize completely, and our goal is to have everyone back in their school as soon as possible.”
The fire comes just over a year after Parkcrest Elementary reopened following its own devastating blaze in 2019.
District officials say lessons learned from that experience have helped shape the current relocation plan — one they hope will keep the Westmount community connected until the school is ready to reopen.
