Hon. Bowinn Ma
Minister of Infrastructure
Parliament Buildings
Victoria B.C., V8V 1X4

Sent via email: INF.Minister@gov.bc.ca

RE: The Recently Approved Rebuild of Hazel Trembath Elementary School

Dear Honourable Member Ma,

I am writing to you as a concerned parent/guardian to ask for an update regarding the rebuilding of Hazel Trembath Elementary School in Port Coquitlam.

As you are aware, Hazel Trembath was destroyed in a suspicious fire in the early hours of October 14, 2023. Recently, during the 2025 provincial budget, this project was announced as “approved”; however, to this day no further details have been released.

Our PAC has been very involved in public board meetings held by School District 43 and as of the May 14th meeting, there was no information regarding our school rebuild other than the following paragraph quoted from the proposed budget document in April’s first meeting:

“In the most recent Capital Plan response letter, the Ministry has identified Hazel Trembath as a replacement project. This project comes from a fire which destroyed the school. The letter indicates that more information is to follow.”

Enrolment at Hazel Trembath had steadily increased over the past 3 years before the fire and is recently seeing enrolment decline due to our school being out-of-city. Our primary location thrived with a student body of approximately 230 children (pre-fire) as well as two daycares on site. Being displaced has had a dramatic effect on all involved and although we continue to be thankful for the support shown to us in so urgently relocating us to the Winslow Centre site in Coquitlam, that building is not our home.

When asked directly at the April 15th budget presentation meeting held by SD43, our PAC Secretary was informed that not even the approved method of rebuild had yet been communicated. The School District, the City of Port Coquitlam, and the Hazel Trembath Community are ready for this project to begin and I respectfully request the Ministry release the required details and funding to get this project under way and help us move forward as a community.

Thank you for your time in reading this letter.

Kindest regards,


<YOUR NAME>
<YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS>

cc: Hon. Lisa Beare, Minister of Education & Childcare (ECC.Minister@gov.bc.ca) Brad West - Mayor, Port Coquitlam (westb@portcoquitlam.ca) Hon. Mike Farnworth, MLA - Port Coquitlam (mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca)