On the first day back to school, contractors began cutting trees on Prince Rupert Middle School's (PRMS) new site.
This work blocks access to the parking lot and golf course side entrance, so the school has advised parents to drop off their children at the Civic Centre or 9th Avenue until Sept. 9.
This project is part of pre-construction work for the new school building for which the province announced $126.8 million last September. That was decided after the current building was deemed unsafe for working and learning due to its various infrastructure issues.
"Removal of any tree is always a last resort, however, the new seismic upgrade will require relocation of water, gas, and sewer connections," said PRSM in an Aug. 29 press release.
"In addition, the completion of environmental studies necessitates drilling rigs work where the current trees stand," the school added.
PRSM's environmental contractor decided September was the ideal time to complete the work as it would cause the least amount of interruption to area wildlife.
Andrew Samoil, superintendent of the board of education explained felling of trees later in the year would run the risk of disrupting the nesting birds, but as of now, birds are not nesting.
Empire Tree Cutting Services is a locally owned business that has been issued a tree-cutting permit the trees which include Sitka spruce, western hemlock and red alder trees in the area. Company owner Vern Barker said a total of 28 trees will be removed. Six remain pending the owner of one of the lots turning the property over to the city.
The school says all cuttings will be preserved and used in art and indigenous projects, including paddles and carvings.
The school board also plans to hire a landscape architect who will plant more trees than they removed, and make the building fit in with its natural environment.
Samoil says there will only be tree felling and moving of the sewer, gas and water lines in 2024. The school building construction will begin in March or April next year.
The board and Samoil have been meeting the architects, contractors and builders weekly, and he says the final designs of the building are not confirmed yet.
“But when they do get the final design, then we will be discussing things like dust and noise impacts, anything like runoff from the work site. That will all be addressed in the work plan,” he said.
Once the construction begins next year, it will be continuous until 2027.
“Once they start, it will be a series of trades that will come in to work, and the school will continue to operate normally,” said Samoil.
He says the school has a 65 per cent Indigenous population, and will continuously consult with the Indigenous Education Council throughout this project.
They plan to host a public meeting on Sept. 25 to share information and get the public's feedback on the project.
