Fire tape at Westmount Elementary in Kamloops as seen around 10:00 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2025. (Image Credit: Victor Kaisar/CFJC Today)

By Victor Kaisar

Westmount Update

Westmount Elementary school to reopen after spring break on March 30

Mar 9, 2026 | 8:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — Students and staff will return to Westmount Elementary School in exactly three weeks when classes resume after spring break.

In an update to parents and guardians sent Friday (March 6), Westmount principal Roy Styles announced the school will reopen on Monday, March 30. The reopening comes a little over five months after a suspicious fire forced the closure of the school.

“I am excited to share some wonderful news about the reopening of Westmount Elementary,” Styles wrote. “Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our contractors, who have worked diligently and safely to complete remediation ahead of schedule, staff and students will be returning to Westmount right after spring break.”

Styles previously told parents that the school’s ceilings, floors, lockers and other finishes suffered fire and water damage and had to be replaced. He also noted “extensive cleaning and testing” was needed as a result of the smoke damage caused by the fire which disturbed materials that contained asbestos.

Other areas of the school, like the gym and the portables, were not affected by the fire, Styles added.

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The Kamloops-Thompson School District said remediation work at Westmount Elementary began in January but an estimated date of completion was not provided. Later that month, school district officials said that the contractors were “making good progress.”

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.

“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,” Styles added.

He also thanked staff at those other 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.

“Thank you for your patience, kindness, and partnership throughout this unexpected and challenging time. We look forward to welcoming your children back to Westmount Elementary on March 30.”

While Kamloops Mounties have said the fire is believed to have been intentionally sparked – and a person was seen on the roof of the school at the time – they haven’t released any updates into their investigation.

People with information are asked to contact the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2025-35751.