School in north-central Alberta closed after strong wind damages roof

The Swan Hills School is closed after being damaged when the town's swimming pool's roof blew off and damaged the shared building during a wind storm.

A school in a north-central Alberta town is closed due to damage from recent high winds.

The Pembina Hills School Division closed the Swan Hills School on Monday because of damage caused by strong winds the day before. Environment Canada had issued a wind warning on Sunday for much of Alberta and southern Saskatchewan, forecasting wind speeds of 90-110 kilometres per hour.

Brett Cooper, the division’s superintendent of schools, told CTV News Edmonton on Monday afternoon that roofing from the town’s swimming pool, which shares the building with the school, blew off and damaged the school, particularly the large gymnasium and the roof membrane close to the pool.

He said an engineer is assessing the damage.

“We want to make sure that it’s safe for students, parents and staff to return back to the school before we open it up again,” Cooper said.

Residents in the town of Swan Hills, population 1,200, posted photos of the damaged school on social media, showing portions of its roofing blown into the school yard.

Swan Hills is 80 kilometres north of Whitecourt and 180 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

The storms, some accompanied by heavy snow, left thousands across the province without power on Sunday.

While the school was closed on Monday, the 200 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 attended classes online.

There is no timeline yet for when the school building will reopen.

Victoria Kane, the Pembina Hills board chair, said the school division is “prioritizing a thorough and assessment process.”

“The Swan Hills School is such an important hub of our community,” Kane told CTV News Edmonton. “We want to make sure that (students) stay in school. I know that everyone wants to get their kids back in school and support their learning.”

Cooper said teachers, in the meantime, have contacted families and are reaching out to students and building online resources.

“I know everybody wants answers quickly, but we’ve got to allow the process to take place and play out, and we will make sure to keep our families, our staff and students informed once we’re aware of the next steps,” he said.