Asbestos leak disrupts return to class at Laval, Que., high school

The Horizon Jeunesse high school in Laval, Que., is shut down until mid-October after asbestos fibres were found, disrupting the start of the school year for some 1,400 students.

The asbestos was spilled during construction last week. It's unclear whether students will have to take their classes from home or if they will be moved to another school while decontamination is underway.

The Laval School Service Centre (CSSL) confirmed staff were present during the incident and were asked to evacuate and work from home until further notice.

Starting Wednesday, students will take turns attending in-person welcome and integration half days at a nearby elementary school. Students were due to return to school on Aug.28.

The CSSL said a temporary relocation scenario will be put in place over the next few days and that the decontamination and clean-up operation is already underway.

"It is our duty to ensure that regular classes resume as quickly as possible while the teams of experts are hard at work cleaning and decontaminating the school," CSSLdirector Yves Michel Volcy told Radio-Canada.

People exposed to asbestos can develop lung diseases, including lung cancer.

Patrick Dulong-Boudreau, the president of the Laval parent committee, said though parents were initially stressed about the incident, they trust that the CSSL is taking control of the situation and will ensure students' safety. He said parents want their kids' education to start as soon as possible.

"No parent wants to hear that there's asbestos at a school.I compare it to the school being on fire," he said.

"But the school service board was reassuring that it was a small quantity and the protocol is being followed."