Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Airdrie, Alberta, has shut down its Grade 5 and 6 portable wing following a flea outbreak. The Calgary Catholic School District is implementing an early fall break to facilitate intensive pest control treatments.
The November 16 deadline for portable wing reopening
The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) has ordered the temporary closure of the Grade 5 and 6 portable wing at Our Lady Queen of Peace School starting November 5. According to CTV News, these specific classrooms will remain closed until students and staff return from their fall break on Monday, November 16. To ensure educational continuity, the CCSD is providing at-home learning options for the affected Grade 5 and 6 students during this window.
This targeted closure follows a period of unsuccessful mitigation efforts. While pest control measures began shortly after the infestation was discovered in early October, officials determined that a more aggressive approach was necessary. The decision to shutter the portables allows professional exterminators to treat the space without the daily interference of student traffic, which often complicates the efficacy of chemical treatments in high-traffic school environments.
Why November 6 marks an early exit for students
The flea infestation has not only impacted the portable wing but has forced a schedule change for the entire student body at Our Lady Queen of Peace School. As reported by CTV News, Friday, November 6, will serve as the final day of classes before an accelerated fall break. This means students will not attend school on Monday, November 9, or Tuesday, November 10, effectively moving the break forward by two days.
The Calgary Catholic School District stated that this extended vacancy provides the longest possible window for pest control treatments to take hold. By clearing the entire campus, the district can ensure that the infestation does not migrate from the portable wing into the main school building, a common risk when dealing with mobile pests in clustered school layouts.
The search for a source in Airdrie's classrooms
Despite extensive inspections and cleaning, the origin of the flea outbreak remains a mystery. Deneen Rycroft, the CCSD's area director of central and Airdrie schools, noted in a letter to parents that there has been no confirmed source of the infestation.. While fleas are typically associated with pets, they can be introduced into a school environment via clothing or other human carriers, making the investigation difficult in a settting with hundreds of daily visitors.
This incident reflects a broader, albeit rare, challenge for school administrators managing portable classrooms. Portables often have different sealing and ventilation standards than permanent brick-and-mortar structures , potentially making them more susceptible to pests entering from the surrounding soil or grass. The struggle to identify the source at Our Lady Queen of Peace School suggests a pervasive issue that professional cleaning alone could not resolve.
Alberta Health Services and the Education Act's role
The response to the infestation is being coordinated between the Calgary Catholic School District, Alberta Health Services (AHS), and provincial education authorities. The CCSD is working with AHS to determine if additional health measures are required to protect students from bites or allergic reactions. Furthermore, Alberta Education and Childcare has been notified of the schedule changes, which are permissible under the Education Act when local circumstances necessitate a deviation from the standard calendar.
Several critical details remain unverified. It is currently unknown if any students or staff members suffered significant medical reactions to the fleas, or if the infestation has been detected in any other Airdrie schools. Additionally, the district has not specified the exact nature of the "stepped up" pest control measures beginning November 5, leaving parents to wonder about the chemicals being used in the portable wing.
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