Province funds replacement school and new secondary addition for growing Coquitlam neighbourhoods
The Province has announced construction on a replacement for Hazel Trembath Elementary and the completion of a major addition at École Dr. Charles Best Secondary, moves that local officials say respond to both urgent needs and longer-term growth pressures in the Coquitlam School District.
In a news release issued Monday morning, government and district representatives outlined three projects currently under way in the district: the new Hazel Trembath Elementary replacement, the seismic replacement of Montgomery Middle and the construction of Burke Mountain Secondary, due to open in 2027. The release notes 11 provincial capital investments in the district since 2017, with eight completed.
The replacement for Hazel Trembath Elementary — lost last year to a fire — will be built using what the province called a first-in-B.C. hybrid-construction approach intended to speed delivery. The new school will provide 240 seats and include a neighbourhood learning centre designed to accommodate future child-care spaces. The Province is contributing $39 million and the facility is expected to open in December 2027.
“The loss of Hazel Trembath Elementary was deeply felt by students, families and the entire community, which is why it is so meaningful to see construction begin on its replacement,”
said Mike Farnworth, MLA for Port-Coquitlam, in the release. That sentiment was echoed by district leaders who have been working to find temporary arrangements for students while plans have progressed.
At the secondary level, École Dr. Charles Best in Ranch Park will welcome a new two-storey addition this September, adding 300 seats across 12 classrooms. The addition, which the Province funded with $18 million, was built to LEED Gold standards to improve energy efficiency and sustainability in line with district priorities.
What this means for families and the district
District trustees and school administrators have emphasised that the projects address both immediate capacity shortfalls and safety concerns — notably the seismic replacement of Montgomery Middle — while creating space intended for future child-care programming in partnership with local governments and community groups.
Officials say the hybrid-construction method for Hazel Trembath is intended to accelerate timelines, though the approach is new for the province and will be watched closely by other districts facing urgent rebuilds after recent school fires or climate-related damage.
- New Hazel Trembath Elementary: 240 seats, neighbourhood learning centre, $39 million, opening December 2027.
- École Dr. Charles Best Secondary addition: 300 seats in 12 classrooms, LEED Gold, $18 million, opening September 2026.
- Other projects under way: Montgomery Middle seismic replacement and Burke Mountain Secondary (opening 2027).
For families in the affected neighbourhoods, the timing of openings will shape enrolment decisions and child-care access for years to come. The inclusion of neighbourhood learning centres points to an effort to co-locate services such as early learning and community programs, a model municipal planners have been promoting to make better use of public infrastructure.
| Project | Seats / Features | Provincial funding | Expected opening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazel Trembath Elementary (replacement) | 240 seats; neighbourhood learning centre | $39 million | December 2027 |
| École Dr. Charles Best Secondary (addition) | 300 seats; 12 classrooms; LEED Gold | $18 million | September 2026 |
| Burke Mountain Secondary | New secondary school | Not specified in release | 2027 |
Since 2017 the Province reports 11 capital projects in the Coquitlam School District, with the majority now complete. District officials say the new and upgraded facilities align with enrolment growth in certain neighbourhoods and with the ongoing need to seismically upgrade older schools.
As construction commences on the Hazel Trembath replacement, school administrators and families will be watching how the hybrid-construction model performs on schedule and budget — a test that could influence how similar rebuilds are approached elsewhere in the province. For Coquitlam residents, the series of projects represents a substantial provincial investment in classrooms and community space that will shape the city's education landscape into the next decade.
