Racist graffiti has been found at four Cowichan Valley schools in the past four weeks, with one school targeted twice. The graffiti began appearing at district schools May 12 and has been an . . .
VICTORIA A Duncan middle school and nearby homes were evacuated Friday afternoon after a resident discovered explosives while they were out gardening. RCMP said that an explosive disposal unit was on its way to the 3000-block of Auchinachie Road where the explosives were found around 12:40 p.m. As a precaution, police have evacuated Mt. Prevost Middle School and nearby homes as the investigation is underway. Students and staff at Mt. Prevost Middle School gathered at the Somenos soccer fields at Evans Park while the school cancelled the remainder of the day s classes. By 2 p.m., all students had been picked up by parents, according to the Cowichan Valley School District.
School Trustees Create Pledge to Combat Racism
SHARE ON: School District 79 Community Care Pledge
The Cowichan Valley School District is coming out strongly against hate of all forms and is asking members of the community to be part of the commitment.
At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, trustees signed a ‘Community of Care Pledge.’
The school board has included a link to the pledge on its website and invites the public to sign as well.
Chair Candace Spilsbury says they want to show the community the district “will stand up for what is right and we recognize the specific struggles of so many groups that have been traditionally marginalized.”
VICTORIA A second suspicious fire in the Cowichan Valley area cancelled classes at an elementary school on Friday. The fire was discovered near École Mount Prevost in Duncan around 7:10 a.m. by a neighbour of the school. The flames were quickly extinguished by the North Cowichan Fire Department and Mounties. The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP and specialized fire investigators are now looking into the incident. It s the second time this week that a suspicious fire closed a school in Duncan. On Monday, all classes at Drinkwater Elementary were cancelled for the day after a fire filled the building’s halls and classrooms with smoke.