A New Westminster school trustee has said the 1,260-seat Massey Theatre will likely be saved. In a phone interview with the Straight, Casey Cook said that several trustees have no intention of supporting the demolition of the 60-year-old building to make way for a new secondary school.

“Although no formal motion has been made, I think everybody has come to the conclusion that the Massey Theatre is a real vital part of this community and is certainly not, I think, being looked at in terms of where the high school would be built,” Cook said. “I think it’s fairly safe to assume the community values the retention of the Massey, and I think that’s the way that we’ll go forward.”

Cook made the comment following a January 9 board of education public meeting to discuss school capital projects. He said that the province has granted $130 million to the board of education to build three schools, including a replacement for New Westminster secondary.

The board of education and the City of New Westminster each own part of a large block bounded by 8th and 10th avenues, and 6th and 8th streets. According to Cook, more than a quarter of the land has been designated as a cemetery, which is off-limits for a new school development.

The board of education owns the theatre and New Westminster secondary school, which sits on top of the old graveyard; the city owns the parcel that includes Mercer Stadium. “We’re optimistic about some sort of land exchange taking place,” Cook said.