Last year, Melanie Cheng, a mother of three and chair of the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council, was appalled to discover a dead mouse in the staff room at Graham Bruce Elementary school. This prompted her to investigate the extent of rodent issues in other Vancouver schools. Through documents obtained by CBC News, Cheng now has access to over 300 complaints regarding mice and rats recorded by staff at numerous schools across the district in the past year.
Complaints ranged from reports of a “dead rodent smell” at Champlain Heights Elementary to a full-blown “rat and mouse infestation” in Killarney Secondary’s cafeteria kitchen. Rodents were observed in more than 80 schools within the Vancouver School Board (VSB). Teachers and students alike were troubled by droppings, live mice disturbances, and nauseating odors of deceased rodents. The pervasive issue affected the working and learning environment, with staff at Nootka Elementary expressing difficulty working in rooms due to an overwhelming smell.
Cheng expressed deep concern upon reviewing the alarming details of the report. She was surprised to find that the rodent problem was widespread across Vancouver, affecting both new and old buildings. She emphasized the impact on staff and students’ learning environments and stressed the need for transparency from the school board regarding rodent infestations.
The VSB disclosed a spreadsheet detailing the complaints along with hazard reports, emails, and images of damages caused by rodents between September 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025. The board allocated $280,000 for pest control measures last year as part of ongoing facilities management for 18 secondary and 89 elementary schools, serving around 48,500 students. The budget includes salaries for two full-time staff dedicated to pest prevention and specific responses to combat pests such as birds, ants, raccoons, mice, and rats.
While rodent issues are not unique to schools, the VSB acknowledged that they are a reality for residents and businesses across Vancouver. The district assured that stringent measures are in place to reduce rodent presence in and around schools, emphasizing the commitment to pest control prevention and collaboration with school staff to mitigate the impact on teaching and learning.
The presence of rodents has long been a concern, with complaints ranging from bed bug infestations to sightings of rodents in various school facilities. Prof. Kaylee Byers from the UBC School of Public Health highlighted the negative impact of living alongside rodents and emphasized the importance of proactive measures to manage rodent populations. She underscored the need for waste management and exclusion tactics to prevent rodent infiltration in vulnerable areas such as homes and schools.
Challenges in keeping classrooms rodent-free were highlighted in an email exchange between VSB’s pest control staff and operations management. The exchange detailed issues in a cluttered classroom that facilitated ongoing mouse problems due to hiding spaces and improper food storage. Additionally, Vancouver Coastal Health inspection reports identified non-compliance issues in some secondary school cafeterias related to rodent activity, prompting the need for independent oversight to monitor the progress of rodent control efforts in schools.
Cheng advocated for increased transparency and improved protocols to address rodent issues effectively, stressing the importance of creating a safe and inclusive learning environment free from pest concerns. She urged for enhanced stakeholder involvement in the VSB’s health and safety committee to ensure comprehensive measures are in place to combat rodent infestations within Vancouver schools.
