Prank turns to vandalism at BEC
NEW WATERFORD — Some furious staff at Breton Education Centre say graduating students are not getting high marks for traditional end-of-the-year pranks.
Although one was humourous, a second went too far.
“They went in and trashed the entire school,” said a source connected to the school, who wished not to be identified in fear of repercussions over their job.
According to the source, students got into the building at 7:30 a.m. Friday, assisted by someone with a key.
“They got into classrooms you can’t get into without a master key, tipped desks over, tipped chairs over,” the source said. “There was garbage everywhere.”
A bathtub was dragged all over the floors as well as a refrigerator. According to the source, the disruption was through the entire school and even outside.
“They even walked around with markers, marking all over the walls throughout the school,” they added. “It was a major act of vandalism and action needs to be taken.”
Another staff member at the high school said they realize the pandemic caused a hard year for students — especially those graduating — but there’s no excuse for the extreme extent they went to.
“It wasn’t a funny situation where maybe some chairs were turned upside down,” they said. “Furniture was thrown, there was debris through the hallways, classrooms were ransacked. That’s not a prank, that’s not funny. That’s vandalism. It was disgraceful, I’m ashamed of our students.”
Messages to some of the student council were not returned. A Grade 12 student at the school, who wasn’t there when it occurred and didn’t want to be identified, said it was a joke that got out of hand.
“It was a few students who took it beyond a prank and other students aren’t happy about it,” she said.
VIDEO SURVEILLANCE BEING REVIEWED
Heather Calder, a spokesperson for the Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education, confirmed parts of Breton Education Centre were vandalized late last week.
Calder said there was no structural damage to the school.
“It appears this was intended as an end-of-year prank, however, the actions of those involved went beyond what was originally planned,” said Calder in a statement to the Cape Breton Post.
“These activities resulted in significant work for maintenance staff over the weekend and it is disappointing that they were not shown more respect by others in their school community for the important role that they play in keeping our buildings clean and safe throughout the year.”
Calder said administrators are reviewing video recordings from the school and will respond appropriately in accordance with the Provincial School Code of Conduct.
A SECOND PRANK
However, a second end-ofthe-year prank is getting the marks intended, according to shares on social media and comments.
An ad posted June 11 on the Kijiji real estate site lists the high school for sale for $1 and the owners as, “BEC Grads.”
The ad is also posted on Qdb.ca, a Canada-wide real estate website described as including, “Properties in most popular places.”
The ad states BEC was originally built in 1970, home to New Waterford’s youth for 50 years. The listing highlights as more than six bedrooms and six bathrooms, over 10,000 square feet, as an extra incentive a teacher’s minivan is included in the sale as well as teacher Corinne Pinhorn’s Cricut and math teacher Colin Campbell’s calculator and Rubik’s Cube collection.
Campbell is noted for the extensive collection of the puzzle-oriented toys on his desk.
“This building has lots of space, bathrooms and plenty of teachers,” the ad further reads. “With this in mind, BEC will be sold to anyone for free as long as they cancel exams.”
Teachers from BEC saw the humour in this prank.
“Our grads have a great sense of humour,” posted teacher Heather Kearney on the BEC grads 2021 Facebook page.
Even the Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education enjoyed it.
“The CBVRCE was not involved in the advertisement currently posted to Kijiji,” Calder said. “We are aware of it and found it humorous, in keeping with an appropriate end-of-year prank.”