Local News

2026-02-18

By Lachlan Konkel

  Progress reconstructing Carihi’s gym and theatre has been slowed to a crawl due to delays in funding from the provincial Ministry of Infrastructure.

On Nov. 21, 2024, a fire broke out at Carihi secondary at around 11 p.m. A result of spontaneous combustion due to a reaction between cooking oils on fabrics, heat after laundering, and inadequate ventilation, the fire managed to damage 13 teaching spaces before being brought under control, with much of the damage being confined to the gym and theatre area.

  Despite over a year of renovations, much of the damage inflicted upon the structure has yet to be repaired, with only temporary measures in place to ensure structural integrity.

  In an email Jennifer Patrick, communications manager for School District 72, confirmed that the reason for the delays in reconstruction were due to larger repairs of the school not being covered by insurance.

  “Insurance covers clean-up and making the site safe, but it does not cover major reconstruction,” she wrote. “The district has submitted plans to restore the gym to full function, including the mezzanine and theatre. The Ministry of Infrastructure is responsible for approving the scope, design standards, and funding for major capital projects.”

  The funding provided by insurance is only a fraction of the amount needed to fully repair the damage. To date, $1.7 million has been received by the district through insurance for post-fire clean-up, site safety, and equipment inventorying. None of this covers the cost to actually rebuild the damaged wing.

  “Based on current construction costs,” wrote Patrick, “the estimated cost to fully restore the affected facilities is between $25 million and $39 million.”

  According to Patrick, the Ministry additionally requires school districts to submit more than one option for reconstruction so that safety, space standards, and value for public funding can be reviewed.

  “The project has been approved in principle, and the district is now waiting for final confirmation of scope and funding.” she wrote. “Until that approval is finalized, a construction timeline cannot be confirmed.”

  Until funding can be fully approved, certain areas of the school will remain off-limits to students and staff, including the mezzanine area in the gym and the Carihi theatre, due to a lack of structural integrity.