Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended a vigil in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, where hundreds gathered to mourn the eight victims killed in a mass shooting this week. He visited the small town on Friday alongside other political leaders and Canada’s Governor-General Mary Simon, showcasing a unity in the face of tragedy.
Canadians are with you, we will always be with you, Carney stated during his speech, which paid tribute to the victims, including six young schoolchildren. The heart-wrenching scene had residents visibly emotional as they consoled each other while leaders addressed their grief.
The community remains in shock from the attack, with many residents reluctant to engage with media, expressing feeling overwhelmed by the attention drawn to their normally quiet town nestled in the Rocky Mountains.
Carney, who canceled a planned trip to the Munich Security Conference to be present at the vigil, invited other federal leaders to fly together with him to Tumbler Ridge, reinforcing the message of national solidarity. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre emphasized, Today? There are no Conservatives. There are no Liberals, New Democrats, Greens or Bloc Québécois, stressing that the moment was about shared humanity.
Before the vigil, Carney and other leaders met with families of the victims and first responders, laying flowers at a memorial at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which has burgeoned throughout the week. Commiserators came not only from Tumbler Ridge but also from surrounding communities, all seeking a way to pay their respects.
Angela Hall, a two-hour traveler from Fort St. John, expressed disbelief at the occurrence of such violence in their close-knit northern communities, indicating, It is just devastating.
The vigil followed a tragic episode where 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, the suspect, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the school. Police later indicated he had not been targeting specific individuals but rather engaged indiscriminately, raising concerns regarding how he procured his weapons.
The small town's loss is tremendous, with communities now rallying around the grief-stricken families as investigations unfold to unravel the reasons behind this senseless act of violence.
Canadians are with you, we will always be with you, Carney stated during his speech, which paid tribute to the victims, including six young schoolchildren. The heart-wrenching scene had residents visibly emotional as they consoled each other while leaders addressed their grief.
The community remains in shock from the attack, with many residents reluctant to engage with media, expressing feeling overwhelmed by the attention drawn to their normally quiet town nestled in the Rocky Mountains.
Carney, who canceled a planned trip to the Munich Security Conference to be present at the vigil, invited other federal leaders to fly together with him to Tumbler Ridge, reinforcing the message of national solidarity. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre emphasized, Today? There are no Conservatives. There are no Liberals, New Democrats, Greens or Bloc Québécois, stressing that the moment was about shared humanity.
Before the vigil, Carney and other leaders met with families of the victims and first responders, laying flowers at a memorial at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which has burgeoned throughout the week. Commiserators came not only from Tumbler Ridge but also from surrounding communities, all seeking a way to pay their respects.
Angela Hall, a two-hour traveler from Fort St. John, expressed disbelief at the occurrence of such violence in their close-knit northern communities, indicating, It is just devastating.
The vigil followed a tragic episode where 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, the suspect, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the school. Police later indicated he had not been targeting specific individuals but rather engaged indiscriminately, raising concerns regarding how he procured his weapons.
The small town's loss is tremendous, with communities now rallying around the grief-stricken families as investigations unfold to unravel the reasons behind this senseless act of violence.
