Students were given an unexpected day off from regular classes when sewer troubles forced them and the faculty of Canora Composite School to evacuate.
At around 8:30 a.m. on September 29, the school enacted an emergency evacuation of Canora Composite School. The school’s principal, Katherine LeBlanc, discovered a septic smell radiating throughout the school.
There was a grey water backup inside the school which resulted in a “noxious smell,” according to Quintin Robertson, the acting director of education for the Good Spirit School Division.
Students were quickly moved to the school’s emergency meeting place, the Canora Civic Centre. It was then announced that classes were cancelled for the day, and students were instructed to contact parents and guardians, who received phone messages regarding the evacuation, in order to make plans to return home.
Information on the Canora Composite School Facebook page announced that maintenance crews were working to address the issue.
“It was discovered that a pump had quit working and the blower was picking up the smell and sending it throughout the school,” LeBlanc said.
She acknowledged parents for being understanding of the issue and understanding that the faculty wished for the students to be in a safe school environment.
After repairs, classes resumed on Friday.
