Montreal

Valleyfield school remains closed due to mould contamination

Students at the Gault Insititute, an elementary school in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, have been told no one will be permitted inside the school until the administration can review air quality test results.

Mother says her children suffer from bloody noses, dizziness, headaches

School mould contamination

12 years ago
Duration 2:03
Mould contamination forces temporary closure of Gault Institute in Valleyfield

Another Quebec school has been forced to close its doors, at least temporarily, because of mould issues.

Students at the Gault Insititute, an elementary school in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, have been told no one will be permitted inside the school until the administration can review air quality test results.

"Until we have those results we won't have any students or staff working in the school," said Rob Buttars , the director general of the New Frontiers School Board, which oversees the Gault Insitute.

He said they are waiting to find out if the toxins produced by the mould could be dangerous.

Catherine Blouin, the mother of two Gault students, is concerned the mould problems have been making her kids sick.

She said her children have been suffering from bloody noses, dizziness, headaches and stomach aches.

Health Canada confirms that mould has been linked to serious health problems, including eye, nose and throat irritation.

On Monday night, parents met with representatives from the New Frontiers School Board in Chateauguay to find out more about the school's plans for the future.

"If it's safe enough, fine. No problem. We'll stay in the school," said Blouin.

"But if not, relocate us. We don't want to go there with a big ventilation system and the school covered up in plastic …We want our kids relocated."

The school board is considering relocating to other facilities in the Valleyfield area if the school is deemed unsafe.

Parents and students may have to wait until next week to find out what the test results reveal.

Mould problems are nothing new in Quebec schools.

In February, Montreal's French school board announced extensive mould issues had left Rosemont's École Baril beyond repair. The school board has plans to tear down the school and rebuild it in a $16 million project.