Community rallies to save Vancouver heritage school
Last Updated: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 | 4:46 PM PT
CBC News
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Students and parents in East Vancouver were rallying on Wednesday to save a historic schoolhouse that was damaged by arsonists — but officials say they can't justify the repair bill.
The 114-year-old two-room schoolhouse on Kingsway near Joyce Street used to house the kindergarten of Sir Guy Carleton Elementary School, but two years ago a fire burned out the interior.
Since then the heritage-listed building has sat empty, boarded up and covered in tarps, next to the newer main school building.
School district trustees have said enrollment in the neighbourhood has been declining, and the entire school might soon be closed down anyway.
But on Wednesday a group of students and parents were out in front of the school trying to raise support to save it.
The area's NDP MLA Adrian Dix said the government has only offered to pay $75,000 to demolish the building, instead of the estimated $600,000 repair bill.
Dix said the province has rejected the community's plans to find alternate uses for the building, but he still supports efforts to save it.
"That school community has taken a lot, and this is a real let down for the whole school community by the province, and I think they deserve better, and they deserve the province to fulfill their obligations to the school, the community and those children, and fix that school," said Dix.
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