PETERS: Brocklehurst has lost its hub. It’s up to all of us to build the Parkcrest community back up

From the stories being told by staff, parents and alumni, Parkcrest Elementary was just that type of school for Brocklehurst.

It was the hub; that place where children developed lifelong friendships, parents fostered new friendships, and staff made it all happen.

No one was hurt in the fire and that, of course, is what keeps this incident from becoming just the worst kind of tragedy.

Everything lost can be replaced, even if it takes some time to happen.

But there’s no escaping the giant hole the loss of Parkcrest will leave in Brock.

Here’s what the larger community needs to do to help make Brocklehurst whole again.

First, organizations need to step up to meet the short term needs of the students, parents and staff.

We’re already seeing that happen, and that’s very reassuring.

Second, the school district and the city need to find spaces for the school year to continue in as normal a manner as possible.

Third, the fire department and insurance investigators will need to determine what happened here so we can try to prevent it from ever happening again.

Not only that, it will be necessary to wrap up an investigation so some heavy equipment can move in and start getting ready for what’s new.

And what’s new will be a bigger, better, brand new school.

It has to happen, and of course the provincial government will have to ensure it does, and in a timely manner.

Not only do Brocklehurst parents and students need a place for learning, the Brocklehurst community needs it’s hub back.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

by James Peters

PETERS: Brocklehurst has lost its hub. It’s up to all of us to build the Parkcrest community back up

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