Bishop’s University’s everyday activities were washed out in early October as the aftermath of tropical storm Nicole caused surrounding rivers to flood, severely damaging the school’s Sherbrooke, Que. campus.
Around 100 millimetres of rain had fallen in the first 24 hours of the storm on Oct. 1, causing the Saint-François river to rise dramatically, the CBC reported.
David McBride, Bishop’s director of university advancement, said the flood damaged many parts of the campus.
“We still have evaluators in determining what the actual cost of the damage will be, but the theatre certainly is not operational for another week and a half or so. Three or four classrooms had some water damage and our squash court and our sports centre had some water,” he said.
“I have been here 17 years and have seen this happen a couple of times, but usually in the spring,” said Rod Gilpin, head coach of Bishop’s men’s basketball team, in an email interview.
“Bishop’s is at a junction where two rivers meet and we certainly had floods in the past,” McBride said.
The school had taken precautions to secure the students and the staff. Daniel Major, Bishop’s director of security, had been in contact with the city as early as 7 a.m. Oct. 1 to set up protection for the campus residents, McBride said. Bishop’s had also set up evacuation plans beforehand, McBride explained. He said Bishop’s College School, an independent school across the river from the university’s campus, had set up their gym to welcome students that needed to be evacuated. Luckily, McBride said the residences and the campus did not need to be evacuated. However, rugby, soccer and football games were cancelled.
McBride said students “weren’t too disturbed” by the flood.
“It kind of broke up the monotony of the usual first month of school. There certainly was a buzz in the air . . . Kayaks, canoes and dinghies floating down College St. will do that!” Gilpin said.