New BrunswickWhite powder in a box that triggered a large emergency response at a Moncton elementary school on Thursday morning turned out to be baking soda.District says powder was in box holding diaper disposal bucket the school had orderedShane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Oct 02, 2025 12:23 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoEmergency responders, including the Moncton hazardous materials response unit, were sent to Evergreen Park School in Moncton on Thursday morning. (Patrick Lacelle/Radio-Canada)Some white powder that triggered a large emergency response at a Moncton elementary school Thursday morning turned out to be baking soda.Moncton firefighters, Codiac Regional RCMP and Ambulance NB responded to Evergreen Park School in the city’s suburban north end just after 9 a.m.Fire Chief Conrad Landry said a staff member reported difficulty breathing after being exposed to a white powder in a parcel delivered to the school, which teaches students in kindergarten to Grade 5.Anglophone East School District spokesperson Stephanie Patterson said the powder was in a box holding a diaper disposal bucket the school had ordered. She said police were looking into whether baking soda is usually placed in the box for freshness. Landry said 10 people were exposed to the powder, and were isolated in a separate room while students and teachers were kept in classrooms. For us, baking soda is good news and we’re going back home.— Fire Chief Conrad LandryThe district superintendent sent messages to parents through the morning saying “hold and secure” procedures had been enacted to restrict movement into or out of the building. The union representing city firefighters posted on Facebook asking people to avoid the area. Landry said the department’s hazardous materials team tested the powder and determined it was baking soda.”For us, baking soda is good news and we’re going back home,” the fire chief said.Landry said the staff member involved felt better after windows were opened.The district has confirmed that the hold and secure order was lifted and classes are back to normal.ABOUT THE AUTHORShane Magee is a Moncton-based reporter for CBC News.With files from Radio-Canada
Baking soda prompts emergency response at Moncton elementary school
