It has been a tense and difficult week for families, students, and staff in Coquitlam. The Coquitlam School District confirmed on Thursday that emergency safety orders have been lifted at two local secondary schools. However, the situation remains under active investigation. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have revealed a concerning detail regarding the disruptions. They confirmed that the threats received later in the week are connected to similar incidents that occurred just a day prior.
Thursday’s “Hold and Secure” Orders
On Thursday, the routine of the school day was broken at two specific campuses. Centennial Secondary School and Gleneagle Secondary School were both placed under a “hold and secure” order.
This safety measure is used when there is a potential threat in the general vicinity, or when a precautionary stance is needed. Unlike a full lockdown, activities often continue inside the building, but no one is allowed to enter or leave.
The school district stated that this decision was not made lightly. The order was implemented specifically at the request of the RCMP. Police officers were present at both high schools for several hours. They worked to assess the credibility of the threats and ensure the campuses were secure.
By Thursday afternoon, the situation had stabilized. Inspector Todd Balaban, the acting officer in charge of the Coquitlam RCMP, addressed the public. He started with the most important news.
“I’d like to start off with letting the community know that students and staff of the Coquitlam School District are safe,” Balaban said during a press conference.
He praised the schools for their reaction time. He noted that the staff implemented the safety protocols immediately. This quick action allowed police officers to arrive on the scene, check the buildings, and verify that everyone was safe.
A Pattern of Threats
The events on Thursday were not isolated. They followed a wave of similar disruptions that shook the community on Wednesday.
On that day, the scope was much wider. Eight different schools across Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam were placed under hold and secure orders. In a separate but nearby incident, an elementary school in Port Moody was also affected by safety concerns.
The sheer number of schools involved raised immediate questions about whether these events were coordinated. On Thursday, the police provided an answer.
“Through our ongoing investigation, we confirmed that these instances are connected,” Balaban stated.
Investigation Details Remain Private
While the police have linked the incidents, they are keeping specific details private. This is a standard procedure to protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation.
Inspector Balaban did reveal that the threats were not identical. The nature of the alleged threats varied from school to school. However, the method was the same. The threats were received by phone.
The police are also aware that rumors are spreading online. Social media platforms have been buzzing with speculation about who is responsible and what the threats entailed. The RCMP has acknowledged this information circulating in the community. However, they are urging the public to rely on official channels. They are asking anyone who has actual, concrete information to come forward and contact them directly at 604-949-5054.
The Emotional Toll on Parents
For parents watching from the outside, the week has been agonizing. Sharon Perry, a local parent, spoke about the fear that grips a family when these alerts go out.
Speaking via Zoom on Thursday morning, Perry described the terror of hearing that a school is under a security order yet again.
“I mean, the first time, the second time, the third time … your heart just stops,” Perry said.
The repetition of the threats has made the situation even harder to handle. Parents receive messages that their children are scared. Yet, because of the security protocols, they cannot go to the school to get them. They have to wait.
Perry lives just a block away from the school. She described the chilling scene that unfolded in her neighborhood. She saw the police cars arrive. She watched as officers blocked off the streets. Most jarring of all, she saw the weapons the officers were carrying.
“Seeing the very large guns that they’re all carrying. It’s just being helpless,” she said.
Perry expressed a desire for more communication. Like many parents, she wants to know more about what is happening within the school district to feel reassured about her child’s safety.
Police Protocol and Safety First
The police understand the anxiety these situations cause. However, Inspector Balaban emphasized that they cannot take chances. When a threat comes in, they have to assume it is real until they can prove it is a hoax.
“We take every threat seriously, because it’s a child, it’s family,” Balaban explained.
He outlined the steps the police must take every single time. First, they treat the threat as credible. They implement the safety protocols immediately. Officers rush to the scene. Once they are there, they assess the situation on the ground.
Only when they are absolutely certain can they relax the rules.
“We can downgrade it once we know that the threat is not there and that the community is safe, the schools are safe, kids are safe and staff are safe,” he said.
Conclusion
The lifting of the hold and secure orders on Thursday brought a sense of relief, but the community remains on high alert. The confirmation that the threats are connected suggests a deliberate attempt to disrupt the school system. As the RCMP continues their investigation into the source of the phone calls, parents and students are hoping for a return to normalcy. For now, the police maintain that the schools are safe, but they remain ready to respond instantly if the phone rings again.
