The demolition of the old Quesnel Junior School (QJS) in North Quesnel began May 4 and is expected to continue until October.

Demolition work began in the fall of 2019.

“Clearview Demolition has completed the hazardous materials abatement work at the old QJS site,” Clearview Demolition said in a news release in mid-April. “We have plans and procedures in place to keep the noise and dust to a minimum and ask for your patience during this time. We are following the COVID guidelines as layout by the Provincial Health Officer. We also ask that the public, for their own safety and the safety of our staff, refrain from entering the site while the work is ongoing.”

QJS closed in June 2018, and Grade 8 and 9 students and staff were temporarily moved to the old Maple Drive Junior School location in September 2019. A new junior school will be built on the site of Maple Drive Junior School, and it is anticipated to be finished in time for students to start there in September 2022.

School District #28 will be hosting a virtual tour of the new Quesnel Junoir School early next week, a release from the Ministry of Education last July listed som “quick facts” about the project.

• The new QJS will be a two-storey facility built to the current B.C. Building Code and in alignment with LEED Gold standards, providing additional energy savings throughout the life of the school.
• It will include new parking stalls and a pickup/drop-off area for buses.
• The new neighbourhood learning centre will have space to offer infant-toddler and before- and after-school child care.
• The future use of the former QJS site will be determined by the Province in the months ahead to ensure the community receives the most benefit from the site.
• The current Maple Drive school will be demolished once the new school is open to students.

With files from Sasha Sefter

READ MORE: Demolition of old Quesnel Junior School buildings scheduled to start May 4

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