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Gym mould scuttles sports activities at S.J. Willis

Community sports programs will likely be the hardest hit after mould was discovered in the gymnasium at the S.J. Willis Education Centre. The gym has been shut down for the time being.
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S.J. Willis Education Centre.

Community sports programs will likely be the hardest hit after mould was discovered in the gymnasium at the S.J. Willis Education Centre.

The gym has been shut down for the time being.

It is used a few times a day by students but can see heavy use in the evenings for such sports as basketball.

Mark Walsh, secretary-treasurer for the Greater Victoria school district, said a member of the public noticed mould in a corner of the gym.

“We had a concern raised — and rightly so — about potential air-quality issues,” he said.

Testing was done and there was enough of a concern to close the facility, Walsh said.

“We decided that we just didn’t want to take any risks.”

There is no time estimate on how long the gym will stay shut.

“In the short term, while we come up with a plan, our kids are going to be facilitated through outdoor use,” Walsh said.

“We also have the theatre space … so they could use that for basketball if we can get some temporary nets, that kind of thing.”

The rest of the school, which currently hosts continuing and alternative education programs, will remain open.

The previously established district plan is to move S.J. Willis programs to the former Burnside Elementary School, which is being refurbished, while the S.J. Willis building becomes swing space as other schools undergo seismic work.

Walsh said S.J. Willis needs upgrading in the millions of dollars before other schools can move in, but there is no funding available right now.

“We’ve not done a good job as a school district over the last 30 years maintaining S.J. Willis,” he said.

jwbell@timescolonist.com