School Bus Rolls Into B.C. Highway Ditch

A routine afternoon ride turned dramatic Monday when a school bus carrying 16 children veered off Highway 26 in B.C.’s Interior and ended up on its side in a ditch.

The Quesnel RCMP reported that first responders were called around 2:40 p.m. near Sundown Road. “The bus had driven into the ditch and rolled over on its side,” officials confirmed Tuesday.

No Other Vehicles Involved

Thankfully, the crash did not involve any other vehicles. Onboard were 16 children and the bus driver. Emergency crews quickly assessed the scene and transported three people to hospital with minor injuries. The rest of the children were safely reunited with family members or transferred to a replacement bus.

Investigation Underway

RCMP officers continue to investigate what caused the bus to leave the roadway. At this time, no further details on the crash’s cause have been released. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Families React

The incident shook local families, though relief quickly followed as all children were accounted for. Officials praised the quick response of first responders and the calm actions of bus staff during the incident.

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Province aims to boost care for families

The British Columbia government has introduced new legislation designed to make child care more accessible by extending services available on school grounds. The School Amendment Act, announced on October 7, 2025, would allow districts to offer care for infants and toddlers and to operate outside of regular school hours, including professional-development days and holidays.

Premier David Eby said the change reflects the realities of modern family life. “Our days don’t start at nine and end at three,” he told reporters. “Life is much more complicated than that.”

Legislation builds on pilot success

The initiative builds on earlier pilot projects in Chilliwack, Nanaimo-Ladysmith, and Nechako Lakes, where schools hosted child care before and after class. These programs helped demonstrate that school facilities can serve as safe, trusted spaces for early learning and care.

Education and Child Care Minister Lisa Beare said expanding school-based programs would make the best use of existing public infrastructure. “Public schools are community hubs,” she noted. “This is a step forward in our plan to increase spaces right across the province.”

Addressing cost and accessibility gaps

B.C. has struggled to meet its goal of universal $10-a-day child care, a signature promise of the NDP government. A July 2025 report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that only about 10 percent of the province’s spaces currently meet that affordability target.

The same report revealed that the five most expensive cities for infant care in Canada—Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, and Kelowna—are all in British Columbia. Rising fees have left many parents paying far more than the subsidized rate the province envisions.

Wages and workforce challenges

Advocates say low wages for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) are one of the biggest barriers to increasing supply. The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C. recently pointed out that the provincial median wage remains about $29 per hour, making it difficult to retain qualified staff in high-cost regions.

That shortage has already forced some infant-toddler programs on the Sunshine Coast to close. “When educators can’t afford to live where they work, programs lose staff and families lose care,” the coalition said in a statement.

Concerns about space and strain

Not everyone supports the expansion. Heather Maahs, the B.C. Conservative critic for early childhood education, warned that using more school facilities for child care could stretch resources thin.

“As a former school board trustee, I know how limited classroom space already is,” Maahs said. She also called the $10-a-day model “unrealistic,” arguing that rate caps interfere with free-market principles and limit options for parents willing to pay more.

Next steps for the legislation

If passed, the School Amendment Act would empower school districts to integrate early-years care into existing sites, with flexibility to operate beyond traditional school hours. The province says it will work with local governments, Indigenous partners, and community organizations to determine where new spaces are needed most.

The legislation represents another move toward B.C.’s broader vision of affordable, universal child care—though experts caution that success will depend on recruitment, funding, and infrastructure. For now, parents struggling to bridge the gap between work and school schedules may soon see some long-awaited relief.

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Edmonton schools set to remove 200+ books this fall

Classic and contemporary titles targeted

Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB) will remove more than 200 books from library shelves this fall, including classics such as The Handmaid’s Tale and Brave New World. The decision follows a provincial directive from Alberta’s education ministry, which sets new rules for reviewing sexually explicit material in kindergarten to Grade 12 school libraries.

Internal list made public

An internally distributed list obtained by media revealed the scope of removals. Beyond Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, other widely studied works—including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and several novels by John Green and Emily Henry—are slated for removal. Books addressing 2SLGBTQ+ themes, such as Gender Queer and Two Boys Kissing, were also marked as sexually explicit. The list circulated among educators before spreading on social media.

School board responds cautiously

While the list has not been officially released, EPSB chair Julie Kusiek confirmed in a statement that “several excellent books” will be removed because of the ministerial order. She added that staff worked through the summer to ensure only books meeting the new criteria were flagged. The board expressed concerns about the provincial policy, noting it opposed the order but was required to comply.

Alberta government weighs in

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides acknowledged the list and said the government will review EPSB’s decisions. He emphasized that the province did not provide the list and has asked the school division to explain its selections. Nicolaides added that the policy was designed to establish clear standards, not to ban books, but confirmed the rules apply broadly across all grade levels.

Rules vary by grade

According to the EPSB memo, a separate section of the list applies specifically to K-9 students. Titles such as 1984 and The Great Gatsby will not be available in those libraries, though they may remain accessible for students in grades 10–12 if deemed developmentally appropriate. This tiered restriction has raised questions among educators and parents about consistency and interpretation.

Concerns over ‘culture of fear’

Critics argue the policy risks stifling learning and discussion in classrooms. Former Library Association of Alberta president Laura Winton said the order narrows student access to diverse perspectives. “Just because a book has sexually explicit material doesn’t mean it isn’t appropriate for teenagers,” she said, warning the approach could “limit topics that can be discussed and create a culture of fear.”

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Rising Costs Leave Playgrounds Out of Reach

Surrey’s school community is facing a critical challenge: replacing aging, unsafe playgrounds in the face of rising costs. With each new structure costing up to $200,000, many elementary schools are falling behind, despite efforts by Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) to raise funds.

A Growing Gap in School Infrastructure

While the B.C. Ministry of Education covers core infrastructure, playgrounds are not included in provincial funding. This leaves the responsibility to local PACs, which organize community fundraisers. Many of Surrey’s schools, some built decades ago, are now in urgent need of replacements to maintain safe and inclusive play spaces for children.

Community Efforts Struggling to Keep Pace

Fundraising challenges have only increased, with dozens of schools seeking support for either partial repairs or full replacements. Some current projects include full rebuilds at Ray Shepherd and Chimney Hill, and new structures at Dogwood, Georges Vanier, Forsyth Road, and Bridgeview elementaries. Costs range from $85,000 for a slide to over $200,000 for complete playgrounds—well beyond the reach of typical PAC campaigns.

Private Donations Becoming Crucial

In some cases, playgrounds have only become reality thanks to significant outside help. At Hyland Elementary, a new playground was completed thanks to a surprise $150,000 anonymous donation—after the PAC had raised just $65,000 despite multiple fundraising drives. These rare contributions highlight the financial gap that most schools cannot bridge alone.

District Appeals for Public Support

Recognizing the growing shortfall, Surrey Schools is appealing directly to the community. “When playgrounds are outdated, unsafe or inaccessible, students lose vital opportunities to grow and connect,” said Vanessa Seco, Major Gifts and Endowment Manager for the district. “Inclusive playgrounds ensure that every child, regardless of background or ability, can participate fully and feel a sense of belonging.”

How to Help

The Surrey School District, a registered charity, is actively seeking donations to support its playground initiatives. Individuals and organizations can contribute by emailing donations@surreyschools.ca or calling 604-595-6074. Every dollar, Seco says, goes toward building spaces where children “climb, create, imagine, laugh and build memories that will last a lifetime.”

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Surrey MLA Introduces Bill for School Resource Review

Surrey North MLA Mandeep Dhaliwal, representing the BC Conservative Party, has introduced new legislation aimed at ensuring all educational materials in British Columbia schools are “age-appropriate.” The bill, called the Parental Transparency and Age-Appropriate Education Act, was announced in a press release on Monday, June 2, and seeks to address growing parental concerns about transparency in education.

Details of the Proposed Legislation

The proposed act would require a comprehensive review of all books, films, pamphlets, and other resources used in B.C. schools. Dhaliwal stated, “This legislation empowers families, ensuring they are informed and involved in their children’s education. Our goal is simple: clarity and accountability.” The bill outlines the creation of an independent committee and a mandatory public review process, after which educational resources would be labelled by the age group they are deemed suitable for.

Community Response and Context

The announcement follows years of advocacy and protest from parents and community members, particularly regarding the use of SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) 123 materials in schools. While much of the public debate has centered on books available in school libraries, Dhaliwal’s press release does not specifically mention SOGI resources. When asked, Conservative representative Ryan Painter declined to specify which materials are targeted but emphasized that parents should be treated as partners in education.

Current Policies and School Board Perspective

Most school districts in B.C., including Surrey, already have policies for selecting and reviewing learning resources. According to Surrey Teachers’ Association president Lizanne Foster, resources are evaluated for age and developmental appropriateness by district-appointed teachers. The process also considers curriculum alignment, literary quality, and social factors through an equity lens. Parents currently have the option to formally challenge any learning materials they find objectionable.

Implementation and Oversight

If passed, Dhaliwal’s bill would establish an independent committee to oversee the review and labelling of educational resources. The act would also require the government to fulfill its promise—made during the spring legislative session—to review school materials. Dhaliwal, who recently unseated former education minister Rachna Singh, stressed that “transparency is the cornerstone of trust and foundational to quality education.”

Next Steps and Public Involvement

Dhaliwal is encouraging parents and supporters to sign an online petition backing the bill. The legislation is positioned as a measure to support parents and ensure their right to know what their children are learning in school. As the bill moves forward, it is expected to spark further discussion about the balance between parental involvement, educational inclusivity, and professional oversight in B.C.’s schools.

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