School of roach: Outaouais schools facing cockroach problems

Two Gatineau schoolsunder theCentre de services scolaire des Portages-de-l'Outaouais (CSSPO) service centresent letters homein the last two weeks aboutcockroachesseen inside.

According toEuclide-Lanthier's letter, cockroaches were found and an exterminator has been called.

Saint-Rdempteursaidan extermination treatment had been carried out in mid-August, but cockroaches were still present. Parents were asked for help checking school bags and coats for roaches.

The Western Qubec School Boardtold Radio-Canada one of its schools has had cockroaches this school year, but didn't say which one.

Cockroaches can contaminate food and cause problems for people with asthma, according to Health Canada.

Bags in bins

Saint-Rdempteurhas been using pest control for cockroaches since 2019, according todocuments obtained throughan access to information request by Radio-Canada.

When Michal Benoit's children return home from that school, their school gear and outerwear goesinto blue plastic bins to contain any roaches that may have hitched a ride.

"This is the only way we have found," he told Radio-Canada in French.

Even with these measures, Benoit said his family is "always afraid" of the cockroaches cominghome because of the cost of hiring an exterminator.

"I think there are people who should take their responsibility seriously in the school service centre and take the appropriate measures to resolve this problem," Benoit said.

Problems since 2019

Documents obtainedshow thatSaint-Rdempteurhas had 90 exterminator interventions to deal with cockroaches between 2019 and 2023, including 28 in 2021 and 24 last year.

The service centre'sCte-du-NordandNotre-Dameschools had about 80 each in that same period, according to the documents. There's no information suggesting they currently have roaches.

Radio-Canada also obtained emailsfrom school administrators complaining about staff experiences with cockroaches toCSSPOgoing back to 2021.