Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a heartfelt message of solidarity to the residents of Tumbler Ridge during a candlelight vigil held three days after a devastating mass shooting at the local secondary school. The prime minister, standing hand-in-hand with opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, assured the community that the entire nation stands with them in their time of profound grief.
A Unified Front in the Face of Tragedy
In a powerful display of unity, Carney and Poilievre were flanked by First Nations chiefs and local officials as they addressed nearly 2,000 people gathered in the cold, holding candles to honor the eight victims. "I know that nothing I can say will bring your children home," Carney told the crowd, his voice filled with emotion. "I know that no words from me or anyone can fill the silence in your homes tonight, and I won't pretend otherwise."
The prime minister emphasized that Canada is a community built on mutual support, urging residents to remember they are not alone. "When we leave here tonight and some of you go back to quiet houses, some of you go back to empty rooms, please know that you're not alone," Carney said. "Canada is a community that relies on each other's grace, and may that grace bless us all."
The Attack That Shattered a Community
The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday when an 18-year-old transgender woman opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, killing five students and one teacher. Earlier that day, she had killed her mother and stepbrother at home before taking her own life at the school.
Police have released the names of the school victims: students Kylie Smith, Abel Mwansa, Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert, and Ezekiel Schofield, along with educator Shannda Aviugana-Durand. Two additional victims, 12-year-old Maya Gebala and 19-year-old Paige Hoekstra, remain hospitalized in Vancouver with gunshot wounds to the head, neck, and body.
Political Rivals Set Aside Differences
In a remarkable moment of bipartisanship, Carney and Poilievre—who have recently clashed on political issues—joined hands as an Indigenous leader sang a prayer outside the town hall. Poilievre commended Carney for his "tremendous grace" during the crisis.
"Today, there are no Conservatives. There are no Liberals, New Democrats, Greens or Bloc Quebecois," Poilievre declared. "We are all just mothers and fathers. We all watch our kids going to school, expecting them to come back to us."
Heroism Amid Chaos
British Columbia Premier David Eby praised the acts of courage that emerged during the attack, highlighting one teacher who barricaded students in a classroom despite his own son having left to use the bathroom. Eby also credited older students for protecting and comforting younger ones during the ordeal.
The premier made a solemn promise to students: "We will provide a safe place for you to go back to school," assuring them that no one would be forced to return to the scene of the tragedy.
Police Describe "Hunting" Suspect
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald described a chaotic scene when officers arrived at the school, with fire alarms sounding and someone yelling from a window that the suspect was upstairs. "This suspect was, for lack of a better term, hunting," McDonald said. "They were prepared and engaging anybody and everybody they could come in contact with."
McDonald detailed how police entered the school, proceeded up a stairwell, and were met with gunfire. Within seconds, more gunfire followed before the suspect took her own life.
A Community's Resilience
Mayor Darryl Krakowka urged residents to "make space" for each other as they navigate the difficult days ahead, acknowledging the immense challenge of returning to daily routines. Yet he expressed confidence in the community's strength: "Tumbler Ridge has been shaken, but not broken."
Earlier on Friday, federal leaders visited the makeshift memorial outside the school, meeting privately with victims' families for the first time. Both Carney and Poilievre were visibly emotional during these encounters, fighting back tears as they offered condolences to those mourning unimaginable losses.
The vigil served as a poignant reminder of both the fragility of life and the resilience of community bonds in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
