To mark the two-year anniversary of the fire that destroyed an elementary school in Port Coquitlam, the Hazel Trembath Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is hosting a “Rally of Resilience” at the original school site on Thursday, October 17. According to the council, the event will honour students, staff, and families who have faced two years of displacement.
The Hazel Trembath Elementary fire started on October 14, 2023 and was deemed “criminal in nature,” by the Coquitlam RCMP.
Two years later, the Port Coquitlam community continues to wait for a timeline on the school’s rebuilding as children have been forced to attend classes in other cities.
Since the fire, student enrollment has dropped from more than 215 Kindergarten-to-Grade 5 students to 163, as some families have chosen alternative schools to avoid daily commutes, the Hazel Trembath Parent Advisory Council said in a press release. In March 2025, the provincial government confirmed funding to rebuild Hazel Trembath, but no timeline has been provided.
“Families and staff have shown incredible strength over the past two years,” the news release said. “We hope the rally will prompt the government to provide clear answers about when rebuilding will begin.”
Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West and School Board Trustee Michael Thomas are expected to attend. Invitations have also been extended to the Premier’s Office, the Minister of Education and Child Care, and the Minister of Infrastructure.
The rally is scheduled from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., with school buses arriving around 3 pm.
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