Asbestos found in Edmonton high school, students and staff may have been exposed: letter
Students and staff at Jasper Place High School may have been exposed to asbestos after a wall was taken down in the boys football locker room by a non-staff member.
This initiated an investigation as the project wasn't authorized and led the division to test for asbestos, Jasper Place High School principal Kim Backs said in a letter to parents on Monday. The incident happened mid-March, before spring break.
The test came back positive for low levels of asbestos in the drywall joint compound that was removed from the school.
'While this work happened earlier this year, the air handling unit for the space was shut off, isolating any air flow from this space to other areas of the school,' Backs said in the letter.
'Maintenance staff also replaced the air filters in the school.'
Students and staff who helped clean up the locker room and remove the hazardous materials may have been exposed to asbestos and have been notified, the principal said.
Asbestos is a natural occurring fiber that's mined from the ground and can pose serious risks like lung cancer if it's released into the air and inhaled.
'I understand this news will be concerning for families and I share your concern. Our division has clearly defined expectations and procedures when it comes to hazardous materials and in this case, they were not followed,' said Backs.
'On behalf of the division and the school, I apologize.'
The school says the boys locker room and surrounding areas were professionally cleaned by a third party contractor. Any equipment that couldn't be cleaned was removed and thrown out.
The school air quality has been tested and is clear.
Moe Barzagar with First General Edmonton says looking at the levels of asbestos is a problem.
'When you demolish that wall, all that dust is becoming airborne and you're breathing that in. So instead of focusing on the percentage of asbestos, it's more important to focus on how much of it has become airborne,' Barzagar told CTV News Edmonton.
Barzagar says if people were exposed and a HVAC system was circulating the fibers throughout the school, it's a 'big concern.'
'If it's not operating and if it's isolated to that one area and those fibers are not able to travel throughout the rest of the building, that's a totally different scenario.'
The school is still investigating who's responsible for knocking down the wall.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Tataskweyak evacuees warned not to return after leaders declare state of emergency over water treatment plant
Social Sharing Just hours after Tataskweyak Cree Nation announced it was lifting its wildfire evacuation order, the northern Manitoba First Nation declared a state of emergency on Tuesday morning after its water treatment plant stopped working. In a statement posted to Facebook on Tuesday, council said the community's water was turned off after water tests indicated high levels of aluminum. Leaders said they will need to do further testing after the plant's pipes and reservoir have been cleaned. On Monday, Tataskweyak's chief and council announced on social media that the evacuation was being lifted at 6:45 p.m. that night. The First Nation, also known as Split Lake, first declared a state of emergency on May 29 due to a nearby wildfire and an evacuation order was issued the next day. Evacuees from the community were sent to Thompson, Brandon and Winnipeg, as well as Niagara Falls, Ont. In Tuesday's state of emergency post, the First Nation asked that returning residents stay where they are while the chief and council work with Indigenous Services Canada and Health Canada to fix the issue. Council said the Canadian Red Cross has been instructed to stop organizing travel for returning wildfire evacuees until the treatment plant is functioning again. Melanie Spence, who had been staying in Thompson since May 29, had planned to drive home to Tataskweyak on Tuesday. "I was very thrilled yesterday when we were given the news [that] the evacuation was lifted. But first thing this morning we were told that [we] can't go home now," Spence said. She said she plans to drive home to grab a few things before hunkering down in Thompson again. "The update today, that just clarifies that no one can go home," she said. Later on Tuesday, Tataskweyak council posted another statement warning there will be a community-wide power outage on Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., while Manitoba Hydro works to repair power structures that were damaged by wildfire. Council said more scheduled outages are planned to complete this repair work. As of Tuesday night, it was unclear when residents can go home.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Organization providing services to those fleeing abuse launches Regina chapter
It's been in the works since February, and on Monday, Shelter Movers Regina had their official launch, making it the first of its kind in the province of Saskatchewan. Shelter Movers is a Canadian organization that provides free moving and storage services to individuals and families fleeing abuse. According to Shelter Movers Regina Director Lisa Williams, a Regina chapter was past due. 'The rates of domestic violence here in Saskatchewan are twice the national average. And we know that folks are finding the courage to leave, and we'll find the hands to help,' she said. Finding the hands to help is the motto of Shelter Movers, which was founded by CEO Marc Hull-Jacquin from his basement in 2016. Hull-Jacquin said he started the organization because he believes every parent deserves the chance to give their kids a safe place to sleep at night. 'I wanted to create something that was authentic and real and impactful. Something that would create real change in our community, and I realized that women fleeing abuse often have to do that all by themselves,' he explained. 'They have a bag in their hand and the child in the other and they're running for their lives, and we have to do better. Shelter Movers is part of that story.' Williams told CTV News that the process to recruit a full staff of volunteers for Shelter Movers Regina is ongoing and that logistics involved with relocating victims of abuse is a very involved process. 'We ask them a bunch of questions about when they want to leave, how they want to leave, how many boxes do they have, do they have pets, do they speak English,' she explained. It is an all-hands-on deck approach when it comes to the amount of collaborative effort it takes to open a new chapter of Shelter Movers. 'We need about 40 to 50 volunteers, usually people from all walks of life who want to give their time and talents. Whether it's on the moves or in the back coordinating and planning the moves to make sure that these happen efficiently, discreetly, and always according to the survivor's priorities,' Hull-Jacquin said. Shelter Movers works through a referral process, with local organizations such as Sofia House, Regina Transition House and local law enforcement. Businesses and associations like Big Steel Box Regina have stepped up to provide free storage space for survivor's belongings. The group is still in the process of hiring and training volunteers, and hopes to be 'all hands on deck' by late July.
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Residents hope smudge walk helps north Winnipeg neighbourhood heal
Dozens of Gilbert Park residents walked the area's streets Tuesday with burning sage, part of the second annual smudge walk aimed at healing and bettering the northwest Winnipeg neighbourhood.
