Edmonton Public Schools puts trip plans on hold over terror concerns

EDMONTON – Edmonton’s biggest school boards are taking different sides on the issue of international travel for students.

Edmonton Public Schools will not be planning any international student trips for the rest of the year. The move comes in response to world-wide terrorism threats.

“We need to step back, take a look at everything, and take a close look at travel advisories,” said spokesperson Brad Stromberg.

“For the present and foreseeable future, all international field trips are on hold.”

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The move comes one day after the Calgary Board of Education announced it would stop all planning of international student trips.

READ MORE: Calgary public school board puts a pause on all international student trip planning

The CBE also cited world-wide threats of terrorism as the reason behind the change, saying in a statement: “There is a need to take some time to make thoughtful and informed decisions.”

While these plans are on hold, the CBE and the EPSB will not cash cheques or collect fees relating to future international trips.

READ MORE: How concerned should you be about world travel after terror attacks?

EPSB and CBE are not cancelling any out-of-province student trips within Canada; only international travel will be affected.

“Nothing’s being cancelled, but nothing’s being approved, either,” said Stromberg.

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Edmonton Catholic Schools said it will be discussing travel plans in the next couple weeks but a decision on whether or not to cancel trips hasn’t yet been made.

READ MORE: Terror fears axe Paris trip for Edmonton student researchers

In the past, Edmonton Catholic cancelled student trips due to safety concerns. ECSB cancelled several trips in 2009, during the H1N1 flu outbreak. All out-of-province trips were cancelled between April 2009 and the end of the school year.

The cancelled trips included a student group trip to California. At that time, H1N1 infections were so widespread in California that the state briefly entered a state of emergency.

Both the CBE and the EPSB will look at revising their policies before winter break.