Express 2024 07 24

NEARLY A QUARTER OF UCDSB SCHOOLS BUILT WITH PROBLEMATIC CONCRETE "$56"-*5 4r/&84

ANIL JHALLI anil.jhalli@eap.on.ca

Approximately 24 per cent of buildings across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) have Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), also known as Siporex, an aging and problematic building material, as part of their structure. That is 18 out of 78 schools across the board that have RAAC as part of their structure. The aging aerated concrete material was the centre of the problems plaguing the Ontario Science Centre, forcing it to close last month. The provincial government an- nounced the closure of the Ontario Science Centre on June 21 due to structural issues and concerns over a possible roof collapse. A report released by the Toronto Star on June 25 report in the Toronto Star showed UIBU0OUBSJPT.JOJTUSZPG&EVDBUJPOJTOPX monitoring 360 schools across the province for RAAC which was used in structures from the 1950s to 1980s. “On a monthly basis, UCDSB staff moni- tors for issues with this material, such as delamination, slab deflection, leaks, and cracks,” said April Scott-Clarke, the mana- ger of communications with the UCDSs. “If localized concerns are found, the UCDSB commissions an external structural engi- neer to review and provide a report and/or recommendations, which we act on.” &JHIUPGUIFTDIPPMTJOUIF$BUIPMJD %JTUSJDU4DIPPM#PBSEPG&BTUFSO0OUBSJP $%4#&0 IBWF3""$JOBUMFBTUQBSUPG UIFJS TUSVDUVSF " QPTU PO UIF $%4#&0 website details which school are impacted

The Upper Canada DIstrict School Board (UCDSB) would not confirm if any of the Board’s buildings built with the ageing concrete product Siporex were located in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell., including Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute. (File photo)

and includes St. Mary-St. Cecilia Catholic School in Morrisburg, St. Mary Catholic School in Chesterville, Holy Cross Catholic School in Kemptville, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Lanark, St. John Paul II Catholic School in Russell, St. Joseph Catholic School in Gananoque, St. Luke Catholic High School in Smiths Falls and St. Mary Catholic School in Carleton Place. 8IJMFPUIFSCPBSETIBWFQSPWJEFEBMJTU of schools that have RAAC as part of their structure, the UCDSB has not provided schools that have been affected. “In sites where Siporex is part of the roof structure, staff monitor snow loads during winter months and removes snow

if required to reduce the weight load,” said Scott-Clarke in a statement. “On a 5-year interval, the UCDSB commissions a com- prehensive structural engineer review of all sites. These processes have been in place for many years, and provides a safe environ- ment for students, staff, and community.” Follow up questions with the UCDSB

requesting which schools across the board have RAAC as part of their structure went unanswered. The school board would not confirm whether or not Siporex was used in any of the schools located within the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.

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GRAVE COLLISION SUR L’AUTOROUTE 417, UN ENFANT EN BAS ÂGE HOSPITALISÉ

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A three-year-old child and two other passengers were taken to hospital after a single vehicle collision Saturday afternoon. The three-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries. The other passengers were seriously injured, but their lives are not in danger, according to police. (File photo)

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à un seul véhicule sur l’autoroute 417 en direction est, à l’ouest de la route de comté 14. L’enfant de trois ans a été transporté à l’hôpital par ambulance, et deux autres passagers ont été envoyés à l’hôpital pour des blessures graves mais ne mettant pas leur vie en danger, selon la police. La police a fermé l’autoroute sur le site de la collision pendant huit heures pour mener son enquête. Toutes les voies en direction de l’est ont été rouvertes après 23h30.

Le détachement de Hawkesbury de la Police provinciale de l’Ontario (PPO) enquête sur une grave collision surve- nue sur l’autoroute 417 à Hawkesbury, qui a entraîné l’hospitalisation d’un pas- sager de trois ans souffrant de blessures mettant sa vie en danger. Vers 15 h 15 le samedi 20 juillet, la police s’est rendue sur les lieux d’une collision

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