Details are emerging about a mass shooting in a northeastern B.C. community. Nine people are dead, including the suspect, and approximately 25 were injured.
Here are key events as they happen:
‘Unimaginable pain’ of shootings focus of B.C. throne speech
The spring session of the British Columbia legislature opened Thursday, not with a preview of the government’s budget or legislative agenda, but with Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia expressing condolences for those “suffering unimaginable pain.”
The B.C. NDP government abstained from delivering its usual throne speech in light of Tuesday’s shootings in Tumbler Ridge, which left nine people dead, including the shooter, and more than two dozen others injured.
Cocchia’s comparatively brief speech instead focused solely on the grief that has gripped the province in the wake of the tragedy.
She thanked the first responders, health-care workers and school staff who responded to the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
Following her address, MLAs from all parties stood behind the premier outside the legislature in a show of solidarity for the people of Tumbler Ridge.
“It’s not that often that the legislature is fully united,” Premier David Eby said.
Todd Coyne, CTVNewsVancouver.ca Journalist
‘Thank you, Canada’: Tumbler Ridge resident
Yvonne Poulin, a massage therapist based out of Tumbler Ridge, has a message for all the Canadians who have been sending their support to the tiny, grief-stricken town in northeastern B.C.
“I love this place. I love this town. And now I love Canada even more, because of what you have given to us,” she said.
Poulin acknowledged the large media presence in the small community of approximately 2,400 after the Tuesday shootings has been jarring, and for some, a sore point. But she also describes the presence of journalists in Tumbler Ridge as “the window to Canadians.”
To the millions of people who have been following the devastating story unfold in Tumbler Ridge, Poulin said, with tears in her eyes: “Thank you Canada, thank you the world. I know we can all relate to this.”
Andrew Johnson, CTV National News correspondent
‘That’s the hardest part. The little kids are gone’: teacher
Survivors of the school shooting reflect on what they heard and saw as a shooter opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday.
Jarbas Noronha was teaching a mechanics class when one of his students ran in saying they heard gunshots.
“We knew there was a real situation. And my goal at that time was, ‘I have these 15 kids, get out of here.’”
In another part of the school, 13-year-old Dennis Meehan said he heard the sounds of gunfire too.
“I’m just still processing it,” said Meehan.
“I just feel lost. I haven’t lost many people in my life, and it just made me realize that you should care for people when they are still here.”
Meehan said they all hid behind their teacher’s desk and barricaded the door.
That protectiveness also kicked in for Noronha. The impact of what happened is hitting him hard, especially since he taught the class the victims were in just an hour before the shooting.
“That’s the hardest part. The little kids are gone,” he said, tearing up.
Kathy Le, CTV National News correspondent
Teen shooting victim ‘officially out of danger’ after surgery: family
A 19-year-old woman who was airlifted to hospital in serious condition following the shooting is “officially out of danger and in recovery,” according to her family.
Paige Hoekstra was shot once in the chest at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Tuesday and airlifted to hospital in Vancouver.
Her sister said on social media Thursday that Paige has undergone successful surgery to assess and repair her wounds.
“Her whole family is here to support her through her recovery to get back to the Paige we all know and love,” her sister wrote.
“We are deeply comforted by the outstanding support displayed by our friends, family, and community and we would like to thank everybody for all of the support, prayers and well wishes.”
A GoFundMe campaign posted by her brother had raised more than $25,000 by Thursday morning.
“We would also like to extend our own support and prayers to the families of the all the other victims, we are so fortune that Paige will be OK and we are here with you in your grief with the rest of the community,” her sister added.
“A brief message from Paige: ‘I want to tell everyone that I am OK and I am recovering.’”
Todd Coyne, CTVNewsVancouver.ca journalist
Psychologist calls for mental health support in Tumbler Ridge
Psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences professor Margaret McKinnon is calling for long-term mental health supports to be put in place in the remote northeastern town in B.C.
“While there’s the initial event, the mental health and wellbeing impact will continue well into the long-term,” said McKinnon.
“We want to make sure that all the support we offer is long-term and sustained. We don’t simply want mental health providers coming into the community and then leaving because that can also lead to a sense of abandonment for those who’ve been relying upon the care.”
McKinnon is calling on provincial and federal governments to provide long-term supports for everyone impacted by the tragedy.
Adrian Ghobrial, CTV National News correspondent
Carney, party leaders to attend vigil
A note from the Prime Minister’s Office says Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Tumbler Ridge tomorrow to attend a vigil.
“The Prime Minister has invited leaders of all parties to accompany him to British Columbia, should they wish to do so,” reads the release from the Prime Minister’s Office. CTV News has confirmed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will also attend.
The prime minister was scheduled to visit Germany for the Munich Security Conference this week but cancelled the trip in light of the shooting.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, NDP interim leader Don Davies and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will also be in attendance.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist
‘There was no protection for them’
There are fresh tears today near Tumbler Ridge Secondary School where there is a steady stream of mourners determined to pay their respects at a growing memorial, including Premier David Eby, who arrived in town Wednesday night.
And, Rick Patterson, who’s lived here since 1983, raised his children here, and is now one of the many trying to navigate their grief. “I think it’s just day by day, moment by moment. It’s not in a textbook,” he said.
For Patterson, one of the hardest parts is feeling like the community somehow failed its most vulnerable.
“There was no protection for them,” he said. They thought they were in a safe space. I thought they were in a safe space, their parents thought they were in a safe space.”
Andrew Johnson, CTV National News correspondent
Support, connection key after community trauma
Executive director of the Crisis Centre for Northern B.C., Riley Skinner, said the aftermath of the tragedy will leave many students experiencing shock, numbness and difficulty processing what happened.
“Human beings are not meant to hold this, at least not alone,” Skinner said in an interview with CTV National News Thursday.
He said early support will focus on helping young people connect with others and understand their reactions are normal after trauma.
Skinner also highlighted the challenges in rural communities where access to services can be limited, however strong local ties often help people come together.
“The best thing we can do is connect with another person and try to do our best not to hold it alone,” he said.
Dorcas Marfo, CTVNews.ca journalist
The following resources are available to support people in crisis:
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
- Crisis Line Association of B.C.: 310-6789
- B.C. Bereavement Helpline: 604-738-9950
Gun laws and risk assessment
President of the coalition for gun control, Wendy Cukier, said the shooting underscores long-standing concerns about how risk is assessed when firearms are present in homes dealing with mental health crises.
“There is no right to own guns in this country, but there is a mechanism where the gun owner can apply to get those guns returned. It’s not clear to me what happened in this particular case,” Cukier said in an interview with CTV News Thursday. On Wednesday, the RCMP said officers had previously seized firearms from Van Rootselaar’s home, but returned them following a petition from the owner.
Cukier noted that gun violence is higher in rural areas on a per capita basis.
“It’s hard to tell in this instance whether it’s a gap in the law, whether it’s a gap in the implementation of the law, or whether it’s just one of those cases where no law could have made a difference.
“We need the resources to make sure that the police prioritize prevention, not just enforcement,” she said.
Dorcas Marfo, CTVNews.ca journalist
Ex-RCMP deputy commissioner on the investigation
RCMP investigators are now focused on uncovering the motive behind the deadly shooting that occurred in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., according to former RCMP deputy commissioner Peter German.
“This is not a who done it. We know who did it. It’s a question of why,” German said in an interview with CTV National News Thursday.
German said officers are expected to track the origin of the firearms involved and determine whether anyone else may have played a role in supplying them.
German added that if no additional charges are laid, the investigation will eventually transition to a coroner’s process to establish how the deaths occurred and the broader circumstances.
Dorcas Marfo, CTVNews.ca journalist
Local charity establishes ‘community resilience fund’
The Northeast B.C. Community Foundation has created the Tumbler Ridge Community Resilience Fund to provide long-term support for local residents as they begin the long process of healing after this week’s mass shooting.
“The fund has been created to provide sustained, community-guided support in the months and years ahead,” the foundation said in a news release Wednesday afternoon.
“Long-term healing requires ongoing resources, co-ordination, and care. Initiatives and programs will be guided by local leadership and meet the evolving community needs.”
The foundation acknowledged that other fundraisers have been launched in the wake of the tragedy and said the goal will be to “complement” those efforts, pledging that all donations to the fund will “directly support community-led efforts in Tumbler Ridge.”
“This Fund allows us to respond as needs change,” said Jennifer Moore, the NEBCCF’s executive director, in the release.
“Community foundations serve as trusted pillars in their community, mobilizing to be responsive in support of healing in the community. Our community foundation network across the nation is walking this path with us.”
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca journalist
‘A dark week’
Speaking from the House floor on Thursday, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon sent “heartfelt, best wishes” to the community of Tumbler Ridge for what he called “a dark week in the history of our country.”
He received standing ovation from both sides of the aisle.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist
RCMP releases list of victims
RCMP have confirmed the identities of the victims.
Victims from Tumbler Ridge Secondary School
- Abel Mwansa: 12 years old
- Ezekiel Schofield: 13 years old
- Kylie Smith: 12 years old
- Zoey Benoit: 12 years old
- Ticaria Lampert: 12 years old
- Shannda Aviugana-Durand: 39 years old
Victims from residence on Fellers Avenue
- Emmett Jacobs: 11-years-old
- Jennifer Jacobs: 39-years-old
‘I saw a bright future’: 12-year-old boy mourned by father
Abel Mwansa, 12, has been identified as one of the five students killed in the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
His father, Abel Mwansa Sr. shared his grief online—remembering his child as someone who went to school with a smile on his face while mourning the future his son will never have.
“I saw a bright future, a leader an engineer also a scientist in you, because you loved doing experiments with explanation,” Mwansa Sr. said.
“I invested so much in you to make you a better person, one that will change the world.”
Abel Mwansa, 12, has been identified as one of the victims killed in the mass shooting in Tumber Ridge, B.C. (Submitted photo)
The bereft father also expressed how helpless he feels after the killings.
“If I had power to give life I would have brought you back to life together with others that were killed alongside you. But son, my power is limited,” he wrote.
“Seeing your child murdered at this age is heartbreaking.”
CTV News has confirmed the victim’s identity with family.
Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca Journalist
Teen shooting victim ‘officially out of danger’ after surgery: family
A 19-year-old woman who was airlifted to hospital in serious condition following the shooting is “officially out of danger and in recovery,” according to her family.
Paige Hoekstra was shot once in the chest at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Tuesday and airlifted to hospital in Vancouver.
Her sister said on social media Thursday that Paige has undergone successful surgery to assess and repair her wounds.
“Her whole family is here to support her through her recovery to get back to the Paige we all know and love,” her sister wrote.
“We are deeply comforted by the outstanding support displayed by our friends, family, and community and we would like to thank everybody for all of the support, prayers and well wishes.”
A GoFundMe campaign posted by her brother had raised more than $25,000 by Thursday morning.
“We would also like to extend our own support and prayers to the families of the all the other victims, we are so fortune that Paige will be OK and we are here with you in your grief with the rest of the community,” her sister added.
“A brief message from Paige: ‘I want to tell everyone that I am OK and I am recovering.’”
Todd Coyne, CTVNewsVancouver.ca journalist
Carney invites party leaders to vigil
A note from the Prime Minister’s Office says Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Tumbler Ridge tomorrow to attend a vigil.
“The Prime Minister has invited leaders of all parties to accompany him to British Columbia, should they wish to do so,” reads the note.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist
12-year-old victim was ‘one of a kind’
Ticaria Lampert, 12, has been identified as one of the victims killed in a shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
“Ticaria was such a loving, courageous, humorous, one of a kind kiddo and her life was cut short,” an online fundraiser for the family says, adding that she was one of seven children being raised by a single mom.
CTV News has confirmed the victim’s identity with her family.
Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca Journalist
What’s next in the investigation?
As the investigation into the incident continues, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in B.C. have released more details about the shooter and the victims involved in one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history.
Police said Wednesday that Rootselaar was known to police and had a history of mental health concerns. However, the motive behind the shooting has yet to be determined.
“We know everything but the why,” former Toronto homicide detective Mark Mendelson told CTV’s Your Morning on Thursday.
“What the police are doing is, of course, they’re interviewing everybody at the school, because there are witnesses who actually saw what happened,” said Mendelson.
To determine if the six victims shot at the school were targeted, Mendelson said the RCMP will be looking at producing multiple search warrants and production orders “related to both the shooter and the family.”
“Were they on any blogs, any social media sites, were they being goaded into doing this action? That’s not unheard of, there’s people all over the world that encourage people to go out and do these things,” he said.
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist. Read the full story here.
‘I didn’t know it would be the last time’
Parents grieving the loss of their daughter want Canadians to focus on the victims, not the person who shot them.
Lance Younge and Jenny Geary speak about the death of their 12-year-old daughter Kylie Smith in the Tumbler Ridge shooting.
Community is ‘numb’ today
Residents of Tumbler Ridge have yet to fully process the mass shooting but continue to lean on each other, the community’s MLA says.
“The only reasonable description I can give you is numb,” Larry Neufeld, B.C. MLA for Peace River South, told CTV’s Your Morning on Thursday when asked how the grieving community was feeling.
“People are not processing it yet; I’m not properly processing it. I wasn’t here when it happened, but I am a member of the community and (we’re all) numb, I don’t have a better word for you.”
Neufeld, whose constituency office is located in nearby Dawson Creek, B.C., said one of his main priorities in the shooting’s aftermath was to ensure that everyone in the community had access to the necessary supports.
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist. Read the full story here.
Victims: Jennifer and Emmet Strang
The shooter’s mother was identified as one of the victims police said was found at a home, which they described as a “secondary scene.” The RCMP did not name the suspect’s mother, but CTV News has confirmed her name was Jennifer Strang.
Jennifer Strang is seen in this undated photo.
The suspect’s sibling — an 11-year-old boy — was also found in the home, according to authorities. His name was Emmett, CTV News learned.
Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca Journalist
Carney to visit Tumbler Ridge
Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in the near future, says a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The statement says details, including the timing of the visit, are being worked out with community officials “based on their immediate needs.”
Nine people, mostly children, were killed in the mass shooting Tuesday, including the 18-year-old shooter who police say took her own life.
The Canadian Press
Experts warn against vilifying trans people
Advocates and experts are warning about the danger of vilifying an entire demographic based on the actions of one transgender person in the wake of the school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.
Their comments come after an independent provincial legislator in British Columbia claimed, without evidence, that the shooting rampage that left nine people dead was related to the perpetrator’s gender identity.
The post added to a chorus of online posts claiming mass shooters are disproportionately transgender. In fact, the Gun Violence Archive has said less than 0.1 per cent of U.S. mass shootings between 2013 and 2025 were perpetrated by trans people, and Statistics Canada says roughly 0.3 per cent of the population is trans.
The Canadian Press. Read the full story here.
One of Canada’s deadliest shootings
Mass shootings are rare in Canada, but the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge Tuesday will go down as one of the deadliest in the country’s history.
The shooter killed eight people, making it one of the worst cases of gun violence recorded in B.C., but still a deeply uncommon event in this country.
“This is not the kind of thing that happens up here,” University of the Fraser Valley criminologist Wade Deisman told CTV News on Wednesday, describing the mindset many Canadians have when it comes to mass shootings.
“So, it takes us aback and it’s completely shocking and devastating when it does occur as it has now.”
Martin MacMahon, CTV News Vancouver journalist. Read the full story here.
Here’s everything that happened on Feb. 11, 2026
EDITOR’S NOTE- CTV News initially reported that the shooter was identified as Jesse Strang. The RCMP later confirmed that the 18-year-old goes by the name Jesse Van Rootselaar and was “born as a biological male” and “identified as female, both socially and publicly.”
Tumbler Ridge ‘one big family,’ mayor tells vigil as community reels from shootings
A memorial of flowers, lights and stuffed animals grows in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., as the community grapples with the fallout of a mass shooting that killed nine people, mostly children, along with the 18-year-old shooter who police say took her own life.
Young children, teenagers, parents and grandparents huddled against the cold and the grief at a vigil the day after Tuesday’s killing spree, with the mayor telling mourners, “It’s OK to cry.”
District of Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka says crying is not a sign of weakness, but one of strength, and the community needs to “stay strong.”
The Canadian Press, read full story
Eby spoke with RCMP about prior interactions with suspect
B.C. Premier David Eby fought back tears Wednesday as he described the profound sadness and resiliency on display in the northern British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge following one of the country’s deadliest mass shootings.
“It’s horrifying and inspirational at the same time,” Eby said less than three hours after arriving in the small mining town of 2,400 residents.
The premier delivered his remarks outside the Tumbler Ridge town hall after attending a small vigil for the victims of the shootings, which left nine people dead, including the suspect, and more than two dozen others injured.
“No one is focusing on themselves here,” the premier added. “Everybody’s worried about somebody else.”
Eby said he has been briefed by the commissioner of the RCMP about their interactions with the suspect, and his government has been in touch with the Northern Health authority “to understand what interactions may have taken place” with her prior to the shootings.
“We all want to do all we can to understand what happened and to make sure that we’re taking any steps to prevent tragedies like this from happening again,” Eby said.
Todd Coyne, CTVNewsVancouver.ca Journalist
Lifeline phone call connects mother and son during shooting
A mother and son spoke to CTV News about their experience during the Tuesday Tumbler Ridge shooting.
Darian Quist, a student at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, and his mother, Shelley, an X-ray technician at a local clinic, spoke to CTV News Channel on Wednesday.
“I feel a lot of different emotions, anger, guilt, sadness, they’re all mixed,” Darian said.
Shelley said a colleague told her that something was happening at the high school, but she didn’t have her phone.
“My phone was in my office, I ran to my office,” Shelley said, “I saw that Darian had texted me to let me know.” She called him and stayed on the line for the next two and a half hours, Shelley said.
“There were a lot of tense moments on the phone of not knowing, because he had to be quiet.” Shelley heard the police “break in” at around 5:30 p.m. PT.
Darian and other students were gathered at a local community centre, where Shelley was able to reunite with her son.
Joe Van Wonderen, CTVNews.ca Journalist
Psychologist warns of lasting effects for community
The Tumbler Ridge community may continue to suffer long after Tuesday’s shooting, one psychologist warns.
Marci Gray, CEO and lead psychotherapist of Gray Matter Health in Brampton, Ont., told CTV News Channel on Wednesday of the potential long-lasting effects for the northern B.C. community.
“This was a horrific tragedy, and of course, it’s going to bring a lot of grief, and a lot of tears, and a lot of sadness, and that’s to be expected,” she said.
Gray says the Tumbler Ridge community can support each other by coming together and honouring the victims and survivors.
“It is expected that after an event like this … there is going to be a traumatic effect from all of this.” She said that community members might find themselves experiencing flashbacks, numbness, nightmares and other effects. If the symptoms continue for a couple of months, Gray said that its important to reach out for mental health support.
She added that it was going to be “so important” for the wider Canadian community to support Tumbler Ridge with vigils and recognition.
” I’m sure that the community is now going to be surrounded with mental health supports at this time, and that’s really what is needed as well.”
Joe Van Wonderen, CTVNews.ca Journalist
Victim’s father speaks out
Twelve-year-old Kylie Smith, who was the “light of her family,” is being identified by her grieving family as one of the students killed in a shooting at a Tumbler Ridge, B.C. high school Wednesday.
Her family spoke to CTV New Wednesday, from the small community that has been shattered by the shocking mass shooting that left nine people dead, including the suspect.
“She was just a beautiful soul. She loves art and anime. She wanted to go to school in Toronto, and we just loved her so much. She was thriving in high school,” her father, Lance Young said. “She never hurt a soul.”
Twelve-year-old Kylie Smith, who was the “light of her family,” is being identified by her grieving father as one of the students killed in a shooting at a Tumbler Ridge, B.C., high school Wednesday.
Her dad spoke to CTV News Wednesday, from the small community that has been shattered by the shocking mass shooting that left nine people dead, including the suspect.
“She was just a beautiful soul. She loves art and anime. She wanted to go to school in Toronto, and we just loved her so much. She was thriving in high school,” her dad, Lance Younge, said. “She never hurt a soul.”
Younge said he heard from Ethan, Kylie’s 15-year-old brother, who was hiding in a utility closet at the school around 3 p.m. local time. He wanted to tell his family he loved them.
But he didn’t know where Kylie was.
The last time Younge saw his daughter was when she entered the school that morning with her brother.
“I soaked in that moment watching them walk in the door together, for whatever reason. I didn’t know it would be the last time,” he said.
Young said seeing speculation swirling online about who the shooter was and what their motivation might have been in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy compounded his family’s suffering.
Instead of focusing on the shooter, Younge wants people to focus on the victims.
“You want to put someone’s picture up on the news? he said. ”Put my daughter’s picture up.”
“Let’s stop giving this psychopath the recognition, because these kids were lost before they got to become teenagers. Let’s put these pictures up, remember them and not this murderer.”
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School has fewer than 175 students, and Younge said his family knows the victims all personally.
“They’re amazing kids. All these families know each other, they grew up together,” he said.
“Hold your kids tight, tell them you love them every day. You never know, you never know.”
CTV News Vancouver
Most victims under 15
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald says most of the Van Rootselaar’s victims were born in 2013 and 2012.
Due to their age, victims will only be identified with the consent of their families.
“We need to approach this with a trauma informed practice,” said McDonald.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist.
Family member alerted neighbour to killings: police
A family member to the shooter told the neighbours about the initial killings, prompting a call to police.
“We were called because a neighbour – there was a young female at that home that went to the neighbour’s – and that’s how we learned there were two deceased at that residence,” RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said.
“The incident at the home occurred first, and from there our suspect attended the school and commenced their criminal activity there, and that’s how we learned there were two deceased at that residence,” McDonald added.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist.
Unclear if shooter had a target
Police say it’s not clear whether the shooter had a target when she went to the school.
“We don’t have information at this point to suggest that anyone was specifically targeted,” says RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald. He says there remains more evidence to gather.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist.
Shooter was not attending school
It’s too early to speculate on Van Rootselaar’s motive, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald says. The shooter had dropped out of school.
One victim was located deceased in the hallway of the school, while others were in the library, McDonald added.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist.
Shooter had an expired gun licence
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald says they’re not ready to release details on the long gun and modified handgun recovered at the scene of the shooting, adding the investigation will reveal whether the guns were purchased legally and by whom.
McDonald adds Van Rootselaar once possessed a firearm licence, which had expired, and that she did not have any guns registered to her.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist.
Woman reported dead remains in care
Nine people in total are deceased, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald tells the media, correcting information that was shared widely yesterday.
One of the victims, a female with significant injuries, had been reported dead while she was being transported to receive medical care.
“She is alive,” McDonald said, adding she is one of two female victims who remain in serious condition.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist.
Shooter’s mother, sibling among victims
Jennifer Strang, the shooter’s mother, and sibling, Emmett, are among the victims, CTV News has confirmed.
Lynn Chaya, CTVNews.ca journalist.
Tumbler Ridge shooter identified
Jesse Strang has been identified as the shooter in the Tumbler Ridge shooting, CTV News has confirmed. Strang goes by the name Jesse Van Rootselaar.
Lynn Chaya, CTVNews.ca journalist.
Shooter acted alone
“We do believe the suspect acted alone,” said RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, adding there are no other active suspects.
The RCMP is not publicly confirming the relationship between the shooter and the victims at this time, McDonald said.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist
Patient at BC Children’s Hospital
BC Children’s Hospital executive vice-president Susan Wannamaker confirmed to CTV News that one patient in critical condition was transported from Tumbler Ridge yesterday following the shooting.
“The protection of patient privacy is paramount to us, and we do not routinely share information about our patients,” Wannamaker said in a statement. “However, there are exceptional times when we need to acknowledge those who are in our care.”
No additional updates will be provided, she said.
The hospital will also be providing youth mental health supports for the community, the statement adds.
Lynn Chaya, CTVNews.ca journalist.
An emotional Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks
Condolences are pouring across the country after ten people were killed and at least 25 more were injured after a mass shooting in B.C. Andrew Johnson reports.
“It’s obviously a very difficult day for the nation this morning. Parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love. The nation mourns with you, Canada stands by you,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday. “I want to thank and pass on a number of world leaders who reached out directly to me in solidarity and compassion. France, the United Kingdom, His Majesty himself, Norway, Finland, India, United Arab Emirates, many others. The world is with you. I have spoken to premier Eby. The minister of public safety has been engaged, as have many Canadian officials over the evening. The minister of public safety is en route to British Columbia. He and the premier will be visiting the community. All assistance, obviously, will be offered.
“We thank the first responders, the teachers, the staff, the residents, for everything that they’ve done in this terrible situation. I, on the advice of the Clerk of the Privy Council and Heritage Canada, I’ve asked that the flags on the Peace Tower here and across all government buildings be flown at half mast for the next seven days. We will get to get through this, we will learn from this, but right now it’s a time to come together as Canadians always do in these situations, these terrible situations, to support each other, to mourn together and to grow together.”
Rachel Aiello, CTV National News correspondent
Poilievre calls on Canadians to pray
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called on Canadians to pray for those affected on Wednesday.
“Obviously we are all devastated by the news of this appalling shooting in Tumbler Ridge. The fact that this took place at a secondary school makes it even more tragic,” he said.
“As a father, I can’t even imagine the phone calls that parents might have received, I can’t imagine the heartache and hell that they’re living through at this moment. This is a time for all Canadians to unite to support the families and the community at large. We’ll be in touch with the prime minister and the other parties later today to offer all of our support, to work together and help the community in any way we can in this terrible time. I encourage all Canadians to pray for the community and pray for the family as we go forward and take the necessary steps to support them.”
Rachel Aiello, CTV National News correspondent
Flags at half-mast
Flags at federal buildings will fly at half-mast for the next seven days, a visibly emotional Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Parliament Hill.
“The world is with you,” he said to Tumbler Ridge community members.
He also said several world leaders have reached out to him to offer condolences, including those of Britain, France, India, Finland, Norway, Australia, and “his majesty himself.”
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist.
PM postpones plans
Carney has officially cancelled a planned trip to Germany where he was set to attend the Munich Security Conference.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Carney will be staying in Ottawa following the events in Tumbler Ridge.
The public safety minister, housing minister, B.C. premier, and two B.C. ministers, meanwhile, are travelling to Tumbler Ridge.
Three cabinet ministers are still set to travel to Germany for the conference, while the Liberals’ previously scheduled announcement of their defence industrial strategy has been postponed.
Spencer Van Dyk, Ottawa News Bureau producer
Canadian Olympic team ‘heartbroken’
Team Canada issued a statement at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Wednesday, saying their “thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones, those who are injured, and the entire Tumbler Ridge community.”
“Team Canada stands with everyone affected as they navigate difficult days ahead,” the statement added.
The Associated Press. Read the full story here.
La Loche, Sask., extends message of solidarity
Weeks after marking 10 years since its own deadly shooting, a high school in La Loche, Sask., is extending its support and solidarity with Tumbler Ridge.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, families, community members, and school staff. We stand with them in solidarity,” a post on the Dene High School Facebook page said Wednesday morning.
La Loche held a day of remembrance last month, marking 10 years since a shooting left four people dead in the northern Saskatchewan community on Jan. 22, 2016.
“This kind of pain is devastating,” said Buckley Belanger, the Member of Parliament for Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River, which includes La Loche.
“Many in northern Saskatchewan understand, all too well, the deep and lasting impact a tragedy such as this can have.”
Cole Davenport, CTV News Regina assignment editor. Read the full story here
Police called to school
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say they first received a report of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time Tuesday.
“As part of the initial response to the active shooting, police entered the school to locate the threat,” the B.C. RCMP wrote in a statement Tuesday evening. “During the search, officers located multiple victims. An individual believed to be the shooter was also found deceased with what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury.”
Six other people were found dead inside the school, and one additional victim died while being taken to hospital. Two others were airlifted from the school with serious injuries, police said.
Two more victims were found dead inside a home police believe is connected to the incident. Police said officers were searching additional homes and properties to determine if anyone else may have been hurt.
Approximately 25 additional people were treated at a local clinic for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
“All remaining students and staff were safely evacuated. Police are working closely with the school district to support a co-ordinated reunification process for families,” the RCMP said.
Kaija Jussinoja, CTVNewsVancouver.ca journalist. Read the full story here
‘None of us have got the answers,’ Tumbler Ridge pastor says
A local pastor in Tumbler Ridge said he and other spiritual leaders in the community were offering support to families in the aftermath of the shooting.
“The idea was to be just available,” George Rowe, pastor at Tumbler Ridge Fellowship Baptist Church, told CTV’s Your Morning on Wednesday.
“I don’t have the answers; none of us have got the answers, but just to come alongside our people and let them know that they’re loved and we’re with them.”
Rowe said he and other pastors were “out and about” after a community-wide lockdown was lifted Tuesday. Many people had gathered at the local recreation centre, including some of the families of the victims, he said.
“I think the big thing that hit me was (people) not knowing, ‘Did my child survive this?’ That was just a heartbreaking situation,” said Rowe. “Outside of that, we as pastors, we just go in and be there.”
Rowe said the local pastors were planning to meet Wednesday and Thursday to help plan for the days and weeks ahead.
“We’ve got help coming in, we’ve got people calling from literally all over the country; they want to come in and offer counseling services, so we’re making our churches available where possible,” he said.
The feeling in the small community the day after the shooting was difficult to explain, Rowe added. “We’re so grateful that so many of our kids got out of there alive,” he said, “but yet so heartbroken that some of them didn’t make it.”
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist
Condolences from U.S. ambassador
In a social media post Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra shared his condolences with those affected by the shooting.
“Our hearts and prayers are with the community of Tumbler Ridge and all of British Columbia today,” he wrote. “My personal prayer is that in these difficult times, they find the peace and comfort that only He can provide.”
Green Party leader: ‘Unspeakable’
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May spoke about the shooting Wednesday, saying “It’s incomprehensible, which means all we can say is that we send deepest condolences.”
The longtime B.C. MP, who represents the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, said, “I’m sure first responders are going to need a lot of support emotionally for what they have gone through being the first to show up to open the school doors. It’s unspeakable, it’s a terrible tragedy, and we mourn with those who’ve lost so much.”
Rachel Aiello, CTV National News correspondent
Interim NDP leader: ‘Cruel irony’
Interim NDP Leader Don Davies addressed the incident at a news conference ahead of Kindness Week, which runs Feb. 15 to 21.
“I also want to express my deepest condolences to the victims, the families, the friends in the community of Tumbler Ridge as they recover from the horrific attack that occurred last night in British Columbia,” said Davies, who has represented the Vancouver Kingsway constituency since 2008.
“It strikes me that as we gather here today to mark National Kindness Week, there’s a cruel irony to that, but also perhaps a profound symmetry, as we gather across party lines to focus on the opposite of what happened yesterday, which is the coming together in humanity and kindness.”
Rachel Aiello, CTV National News correspondent
Carney grieves
Prime Minister Mark Carney shared a response on social media, saying that he connected with B.C. Premier David Eby and is co-ordinating a federal response with Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree.
“I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens,” Carney said.
“Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country — our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other.”
Soon after, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement that Carney will postpone both a defence announcement in Halifax on Wednesday and his planned trip to Germany for the Munich Security Conference.
Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre said he was devastated to hear of “the many innocent people murdered and injured in a senseless act of violence.”
CTVNews.ca staff. Read the full story here
U.K.’s Starmer weighs in
“This morning, I conveyed the U.K.’s deepest condolences to Prime Minister Carney and the people of Canada for the devastating shooting in Tumbler Ridge,” said British Prime Minister Kier Starmer, delivering his opening remarks to that country’s House of Commons.
Luca Caruso-Moro, CTVNews.ca journalist.
‘Wrap these families with love’
Hours after one of the worst mass shootings in Canadian history, B.C. Premier David Eby urged people across the province to throw their support behind those grieving in Tumbler Ridge.
“We can’t imagine what the community is going through, but I know it’s causing us all to hug our kids a little bit tighter,” Eby said at a news conference in downtown Vancouver.
“Wrap these families with love—not just tonight, but tomorrow and into the future. This is something that will reverberate for years to come.”
Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca journalist. Read the full story here