VICTORIA — Coquitlam Mayor Brad West says community pressure is responsible for the provincial government's decision to speed up the reconstruction of an elementary school destroyed by fire almost two years ago.

Hazel Trembath Elementary burned down on Oct. 14, 2023, under suspicious circumstances, and the provincial government Friday released its plans to build a brand-new school for 240 students at a cost of nearly $39 million with fast-tracked timelines.

The announcement comes after local politicians and school board officials repeatedly raised concerns about the process and pace of reconstruction, with West writing five separate letters to the province, including his latest dated Oct. 8, 2025.

West says it would be speculative to draw any link between that last letter and Friday's a

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