Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

WESTMOUNT UPDATE

Repair work continuing at Westmount one month after suspicious roof fire; no firm date for student return

Nov 25, 2025 | 4:21 PM

KAMLOOPS — After a suspicious fire was set on the roof at Westmount Elementary last month, the school still hasn’t been able to re-open. The Kamloops-Thompson School District shared two weeks ago that asbestos had been disturbed, which does require extra remediation steps to make sure the area is safe for people to return to.

During a general media call on Tuesday (Nov. 25), the district’s interim superintendent, Mike McKay, was asked for an update on Westmount, and said clean-up is underway in the library area that was mainly affected. McKay added a contract will soon be issued for the rest of the remediation work.

“The air quality and materials review to see what is contaminated and what isn’t is underway and coming to a conclusion,” he noted. “Everything is happening as it should — it just doesn’t happen quickly. We can’t take any risks around contaminants that could have long-term health impacts.”

Around 250 students at Westmount Elementary were temporarily divided between Kay Bingham Elementary, Parkcrest Elementary and George Hilliard Elementary.

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At this stage, McKay says the district can’t provide a specific date for when exactly classes can return to Westmount. While police believe the fire was intentionally set, so far no arrests have been made in relation to the arson investigation.