Canada’s Governor General has wrapped up her three-day visit to Tumbler Ridge. Mary Simon said the visit was an experience that will stick with her for a long time.
Simon says the families of victims are still experiencing a tremendous amount of grief.
The Governor General has spent the last three days in the community, months after the mass shooting tragedy, where eight people were killed before the shooter killed herself.
Most of Simon’s visit was spent engaging in private meetings that were closed to the public and media.
Simon met with students, school staff, first responders and others impacted by the shooting.
On Monday, the Governor General met with town officials before visiting the shooting memorial site. At the site, Simon paused for a “moment to reflect” and to place a “paper heart with a message written on it.”
The Governor General said it was important to her that she return to Tumbler Ridge, to meet with community members after she came for a vigil in February.
Simon said that people in the community are at various stages of healing. She added, they are resilient and it was important for them to know that Canadians have not forgotten what happened.
With files from The Canadian Press