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A burning issue gets students' attention

"What really makes us angry is when somebody purposefully sets a fire"

PATRICIA D'SOUZA

CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
Matthew Gardner approaches the microphone during an assembly at Nakasuk School to ask fire chief Cory Chegwyn why firefighters ran out of water as Joamie School burned. (PHOTO BY PATRICIA D'SOUZA)

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Members of the Government of Nunavut's new committee on school safety gathered at Nakasuk School last Friday to speak to elementary school students about a recent string of fires in Iqaluit and listen to their ideas about creating safer schools.

"Maybe we can put cameras on schools so we know who did it," one boy suggested. "That's a very good idea. We plan to do that," said Jack Donegani, the chair of the committee made up of GN staff, RCMP officers, firefighters and bylaw staff.

"Maybe we can just make the schools fireproof," another boy said. "We have to build our schools as safely as possible so they don't burn. But unfortunately, the items in the school still burn," said Iqaluit fire chief Cory Chegwyn.

"Maybe you guys should try and hire security," another boy said. "We have hired security," said Donegani, who works for the department of public works.

The committee was formed the day after the Oct. 30 fire on the steps of Nakasuk School. "Our aim is to work with you to increase your pride in your school and in the contribution it makes to your community," Donegani told the group of about 50 students seated cross-legged on the gym floor.

And part-way through the assembly, the students began to understand that not all bursts of flame are exciting - school fires can be quite scary.

"How did the firefighters feel when the fire was on?" one girl asked. "We think about how are we going to put the fire out and how are we going to protect the community as well as the firefighters I work with every day," Chegwyn said.

"What really makes us angry is when somebody purposefully sets a fire. We're very concerned that people's safety is at risk."

Many kids wanted to know about the progress on the new Joamie School.

"When are you going to start building the school?" one boy asked. "Joamie is basically started," Donegani said.

"What will it look like?" the boy continued. "It will look basically like the old one, but it will be turned for a better view of the bay and it will have four new classrooms," Donegani said.

"What would have happened if there were kids in the school [when it burned down]?" another boy asked. "That's an awful thought. It's one thing to lose a school. It's another thing to lose you." Donegani said.

"Would you do this again if another school burned?" a student asked.

Donegani was philosophical in his reply. "We plan to keep doing this until schools do not burn down."

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