Students returning to Westmount Elementary school for the first time since the suspicious fire on Oct. 26, 2025. (Image Credit: Curtis Goodrum/CFJC Today)

By Victor Kaisar

Westmount Reopens

Westmount Elementary reopens after five-month closure caused by suspicious fire

Mar 30, 2026 | 12:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — Students and staff are back at Westmount Elementary School, a little more than five months after a suspicious fire that sparked on the roof of the building.

Monday (March 30) morning’s reopening coincides with the return to class after spring break. School district officials said the return to class was made possible after the “extraordinary efforts of contractors” as the fire, smoke and water damage disturbed materials that contained asbestos.

“[Our contractors] have worked diligently and safely to complete remediation ahead of schedule, staff and students will be returning to Westmount right after spring break,” Westmount principal Roy Styles said in a March 6 note to parents and guardians.

“We know how much students, families and staff have missed being in their school, and we can’t wait to welcome them back and come together again in our own building.”

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The roughly 250 students at Westmount Elementary missed two days of class following the Oct. 26, 2025 fire. They were then divided by age and sent to Kay Bingham Elementary, Parkcrest Elementary and George Hilliard Elementary so they could resume learning.

Styles thanked staff at those three schools for “generously” welcoming Westmount students and staff over the past five months.

“Their support ensured learning continued smoothly and our staff and students formed positive new connections while important restoration work took place,” Styles said.

CFJC will have more on the return to Westmount Elementary on Tuesday (March 31).