‘It should be used’: Historic Moncton building remains vacant

The future of a Moncton high school that was built in 1935 remains uncertain.

Walking up to the main entrance of the former Moncton High School can’t help but feel nostalgic for Moe Jacob.

“There’s all kinds of memories here,” said Jacob.

Jacob was the yearbook photographer for Moncton High in 1989, the year he graduated.

The school closed in 2015 when the new Moncton High School opened roughly 10 kms away.

It’s been mostly vacant ever since and seeing it empty saddens the former Purple Knight.

“You know, in this day and age, I can’t imagine that there was no purpose for this school, or purpose for this building. Whether we keep it a school or a government facility. I just can’t imagine why in 2026 we haven’t done anything with the building yet,” said Jacob.

The building is owned by Heritage Management who bought the Normandy Gothic Revival Style building from the province in 2017 for $1 million.

The 92,000 square-foot building has gone through extensive renovations over the years but, with the exception of a COVID vaccination centre set up by the province during the pandemic, it’s been without a tenant.

There was some consideration of re-opening it as a school a few years ago, but there was never a concrete plan to send students back there.

According to the Heritage Management website, the property is in development and currently not for lease.

Built in 1935, the three-storey building is front-faced with red sandstone and is one of the most impressive looking structures in the city.

Moncton Museum Culture and Heritage Coordinator Lawren Campbell said when it opened it was probably the most advanced high school in Canada.

“It had an auditorium, it had a cafeteria and a rifle range,” said Campbell. “It really took the best of what you could possibly put in a high school at the time.”

Campbell can’t think of another building in Moncton of that stature, or that magnitude that’s that impressive.

“There’s something about that Normand Gothic style, that collegiate gothic style that really roots education and lineage. When I went there in the 80s, the walk on the same wooden floors and touch the same wooden balusters, it roots you in a history that went back decades and decades,” said Campbell.

Charlie LeBlanc lives in the neighbourhood and attended Moncton High in the 1970s.

“There’s absolutely nothing in it and you’d think there would be some kind of business or something going into it,” said LeBlanc. “Yeah, it’s a sin. Maybe even something to look after the homeless people, I don’t know. It should be used, it should be used for something or tear it down.”

Jacob fondly recalled spending time with friends inside and outside the school and trips to the nearby grocery store for fries and gravy during the lunch break.

If he could have his wish, Jacob would like to see it become a high school again or perhaps office space or affordable housing.

“I’m sure there’s lots of uses for this building,” said Jacob.

CTV News reached out to Heritage Management for an update on the future of the building, but no one was available for an interview on Friday.

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