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A Laval high school, École Horizon Jeunesse, will be closed until mid-October for asbestos decontamination and its 1,400 students relocated.
The principal of the Centre de services scolaire de Laval (CSSDL) school, Nassima Araar, confirmed on Saturday that results of air quality tests last week had indicated the presence of asbestos fibres in the school, located in Laval’s Auteuil district. A return to classes was delayed from Aug. 28 as the tests were carried out.
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The decontamination has begun, she said in her post but an in-person return to the school won’t be before mid-October. Exposure to asbestos can lead to pulmonary diseases, including lung cancer.
Authorities were aware of the presence of asbestos and work had been underway for several months to remove it, according to published reports. But the accidental activation of a ventilation system, although momentary, raised concerns about the dispersal of the toxic substance throughout the school; the tests confirmed it.
CSSDL director Yves Michel Volcy said in a statement: “This is not the back-to-school we would have hoped for for the students and staff of École Horizon Jeunesse.” He said efforts were being made to make sure regular classes resume as quickly as possible while experts work to clean and decontaminate the school.
Araar said in her Saturday Facebook post that plans for the temporary relocation of students and staff would be communicated “quickly,” with a view to starting regular classes the week of Sept. 9. A schedule for the week of Sept. 2 is posted on the school’s Facebook page: Monday is a holiday and Tuesday will be a pedagogical day. Classes on Wednesday and Thursday are scheduled to take place at the nearby Mike Bossy Arena at another CSSDL school, École de la Croisée and remotely. On Friday a free school outing is planned, with buses departing from the school.
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