Stewart Biology: North Block open

After extensive cleaning and air-testing, we are glad to announce that the North Block of the Stewart Biology Building is safe for use, and is open effective immediately.

All in-person teaching, research, administrative work and other activities in the North Block may resume. For classes scheduled to begin before 12:00 p.m. tomorrow, we ask that instructors please communicate with their students by 10:00 p.m. tonight to indicate whether they will be held in person. Students in these classes who do not receive a notification before 10:00 p.m. this evening can assume that they will be held remotely. Classes scheduled to begin as of 12:00 p.m. tomorrow or later will be held in person.

The decision to re-open the North Block follows a series of tests which confirm that the air complies with Quebec government safety standards. We expect to receive air test results for the South Block on the evening of Thursday, February 23. If those results are satisfactory, the South Block will re-open on Friday, February 24.

For more information, including detailed air test results, please consult this FAQ.

As activities in the Stewart Biology Building resume, I would like to thank you once again for your patience and understanding throughout these difficult weeks. I understand that these disruptions caused major issues for many of you, and had a real and regrettable impact on teaching, research and other vital activities. I can only assure you that this was unavoidable as we worked to repair the flooding damage, clean the affected areas, and keep our community safe.

Pierre Barbarie,
Senior Director, Campus Public Safety, on behalf of the Emergency Operations Centre