Book drive helps teachers rebuild classrooms after Thompson school fire

A Grade 4 teacher whose elementary school was destroyed by a fire nearly a month ago has collected two carloads of donated books and supplies to help her colleagues rebuild their classrooms in Thompson, Man.

Zoe Bettess, who has taught at Westwood Elementary School in Thompson, Man., for 16 years, said she sent a video of the donations she gathered to colleagues, who "were quite shocked that there was so much, and surprised and so grateful."

The elementary school was destroyed last month by a fire that authorities believestarted in an electrical panel around 3:30 a.m. on July 24.

When Bettess heard about the fire, she knew she'd miss the books in her classroom library, so she wanted to start a book drive for the teachers.

Her parents in Brandon, Man., collected donations while she was on vacation overseas. People dropped off not only books, but baskets and extra supplies a collection that quickly filled her parents' two spare bedrooms, and they're not taking any more.

She took the video of the donations when she returned from her trip on Monday.

"We wanted it to be known that we truly appreciate it, and it will really help us get the year started off," Bettess said.

A separate GoFundMe, run by a Thompson resident the CBC hasn't been able to contact, has also raised funds to help restock classrooms.

Bettess is still processing the loss of her classroom and the precious items from students that adorned its walls.

"It's just like the pictures they draw that are up on the bulletin board or little gifts that they made at home, just those kinds of things that don't cost lots, but they are priceless, because the kids made them themselves," she said.

Bettess, who will drive back to northern Manitoba next week, said she feels stressed not knowing what to expect in terms of getting her new classroom ready at one of the two schools that are welcoming displaced students and staff in the fall.

'Extremely crowded'

Westwood students in kindergarten to Grade 5 will attend Burntwood Elementary School and those in Grade 6 to 8 will go to Juniper Elementary School, Mystery Lake School Division said in a notice on its website last week.

"I think this is the best outcome for this, you know, that at least these kids are going to be in a school. I just thank, thank, thank God that this fire didn't start while kids were in that building," said Angele Bartlett, co-superintendent of the division.

"People are upset and people are sad, and they've lost their little elementary school that they grew up in, but it could have been way, way worse."

The division focused on keeping the students together to help preserve the Westwood Viking traditions and culture, Bartlett said.

The only two elementary schools that could accommodate approximately 315 students and 55 staff members "are going to be extremely crowded," she said.

Burntwood Elementary School has a large gym that can be divided to serve two gym classes at one time, the co-superintendent said.

Multipurpose and resource rooms that are considered "bonus spaces" will be converted into classrooms to prevent overcrowding and allow the Westwood students and teachers to feel comfortable, Bartlett said.

Westwood students will attend their new school placement for the entire year, and for the foreseeable future until a new school is built in the community.

"We're trying to make this as easy a transition for these teachers as we possibly can," Bartlett said.

"The principals of those schools and the school administration have been, like, fantastic to deal with. They are welcoming these kids with open arms."

The division has reached out to teachers to see what supplies they need for September and has already ordered new desktop computers, she said.

City of Thompson communications officer Ian Graham estimates damages from the fire are in the millions of dollars.

Westwood Elementary School is a giant pile of rubble except for the gym, which will have to be torn down. Because of the age of the building, asbestos abatement must also be done.

"It's a big loss. There's a lot of people that went there currently, a lot of people who worked there, and of course, a lot of people who attended that school over the years," Graham said.

While there were no injuries reported, the firefighters, who also work as paramedics in Thompson, received 39 emergency dispatches during the 40 hours they spent fighting the fire, Graham said.

The majority of the city's firefighters worked to put out the blaze.

"It was a very busy time for them, running from one call to another call and then back to the fire," Graham said.