All North Island College campuses across Vancouver Island are closed due to a non-specific bomb threat called into the college’s phone lines Thursday morning.
Christiana Wiens, media liaison at NIC, said out of an abundance of caution, all campuses are being evacuated.
“The call came in through our distributed phone system. We don’t know where the call came from, so because of that, we don’t know which campus (the threat) is directed at.”
She confirmed there are summer classes underway at all campuses, as well as staff who are working throughout the summer and childcare centres open at the Campbell River and Comox Valley campuses.
Randall Heidt, vice president, strategic initiatives at NIC said they are currently awaiting on RCMP to see what the next steps are.
“Under RCMP advice, we’ve decided to close all campuses to ensure safety.”
He noted there are not as many people at the various campuses as there would be during the regular school season, and added: “there is minimal disruption.”
“Safety is the most important thing and we want to ensure our students and employees are safe,” he said and added these types of situations do happen from time to time.
NIC serves more than 9,000 students annually at their four campuses – Comox Valley, Campbell River, Port Alberni and Port Hardy – their learning centre and through online and in-community learning.
