Province greenlights $39 million rebuild of Hazel Trembath Elementary with first-of-its-kind fast-track construction

After a devastating arson reduced Hazel Trembath Elementary to ashes two years ago, plans to rebuild the Port Coquitlam school are officially underway – with an innovative approach aimed at welcoming students back to classrooms faster than ever before.

The province announced on Oct. 17 that construction of a brand-new, 240-seat school will begin in July 2026, with doors set to open by December 2027 – at least a full school year sooner than would be possible under traditional building methods.

“Schools are the heart of our communities, and we know that the loss of Hazel Trembath Elementary has deeply impacted parents, students, teachers and staff,” said Bowinn Ma, B.C.’s Minister of Infrastructure. “I’m grateful to the school district for working with us on an innovative first-in-B.C. approach that will expedite construction and speed up the delivery of this new school for families.”

Hybrid construction to speed up reopening

The new school – to be built on the original site at 1278 Confederation Dr. – will be the first in B.C. to use a hybrid construction model. 

The main classrooms and common areas will be built using prefabricated materials, while the gymnasium will follow conventional construction techniques. The blended approach is expected to significantly reduce build time while meeting all the same quality and safety standards as a traditional project.

The facility will feature two kindergarten classrooms, eight elementary classrooms, and a neighbourhood learning centre that could support future child-care spaces. Sustainability is also a key focus: the design includes a high-efficiency heat pump to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by about 50 percent, as well as parking equipped with electric-vehicle charging stations.

Urgency to bring students home

For the Port Coquitlam community, which has been without its neighbourhood school since the 2023 blaze, the announcement marks a major milestone.

“Students in Port Coquitlam deserve to go to school close to home, and parents and families deserve the convenience that this brings,” said Port Coquitlam MLA Mike Farnworth. “After the loss of Hazel Trembath Elementary in our community, we know the rebuild can’t come quickly enough for families, and our government is working urgently to deliver a new school that will welcome students back as soon as possible.”

Coquitlam School Board Chair Michael Thomas called the announcement a long-awaited step forward.

“Since the loss of the original building, we’ve been dedicated to bringing students and families back to their own neighbourhood as quickly as possible,” Thomas said. “We understand the connections this helps foster between students, families, school and community. Thank you to Minister Mike Farnworth, city council, district staff and community members for their tireless work and advocacy, and to the Province for helping bring Hazel Trembath home.”

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West framed the announcement as a testament to the community’s perseverance. 

“From the moment tragedy struck, Port Coquitlam rallied together to support all those impacted,” he said. “As days turned to weeks, months, and years – we never stopped making our voices heard to the provincial government that we needed our school rebuilt.”

In the months following the fire, the displaced students and staff were bused daily to a makeshift campus at Winslow Centre – a former middle school about 20 minutes away – a logistical challenge for families, teachers, and community volunteers alike.

The community kept constant pressure on the province to act, holding rallies at the site of the school that drew local officials, school board members, and residents into active support.

For many families, the duration of the “holding pattern” – with limited updates and no firm timeline – intensified the sense of limbo.

By early 2025, frustration was mounting. A petition supporting the rebuild of Hazel Trembath gained more than 3,300 signatures in under a month, reflecting public impatience at perceived delays.

Investment in local schools

The Hazel Trembath rebuild is expected to cost nearly $39 million, with the province and Coquitlam School District continuing to explore ways to accelerate the timeline even further.

“Children in Port Coquitlam deserve a bright, safe and welcoming school close to home,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care. “We’re proud to support a rebuild that will give families and students the spaces they need to thrive.”

The province touts that it has invested more than $454 million in the Tri-Cities’ schools over the past eight years – funding 1,375 seismically safer seats and 2,600 new classroom spaces across the district.