Tragedy Strikes Tumbler Ridge: Community in Mourning After School Shooting

Thu Feb 12 2026 23:59:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A small Canadian town is reeling from a devastating shooting at a local secondary school, resulting in nine fatalities and countless injuries. The incident has left residents grappling with fear and uncertainty.

The tight-knit community of Tumbler Ridge is in shock after a tragic shooting at a local school led to nine deaths and numerous injuries. Residents describe the horror of the event and the profound impact on their small town, highlighting the strong bonds that make up their close-knit society.

The small Canadian town of Tumbler Ridge is grappling with shock and disbelief following a tragic shooting at a local secondary school, which has resulted in the deaths of nine individuals and left at least 25 others injured.

Located 415 miles (667 km) northeast of Vancouver, Tumbler Ridge, with its population of approximately 2,500, has been thrust into a state of fear and uncertainty as residents recount the harrowing experiences of the lockdown and the realization of the unfolding tragedy.

I will know every victim. I've been here 19 years, and we're a small community, said town mayor Darryl Krakowka. I don't call them residents. I call them family. In this close-knit environment, the impact of such violence resonates deeply with everyone.

The situation escalated quickly, as local councillor Chris Norbury felt the fear firsthand when he received notifications about a lockdown at his daughter’s elementary school, while waiting for news of his wife, who teaches at the secondary school involved in the incident. It was terrifying, it's hard to put into words the dread and the fear that you feel knowing that a loved one is in danger, he expressed.

Accounts from students also paint a vivid picture of the traumatic experience. Bryan Castellarin recounted how his son Ashton and his classmates huddled in fear during the shooting, unsure of their fate amidst the cacophony of gunfire. They were huddled in a corner of the classroom for two to three hours. It felt a lot longer. Some were really freaking out and crying, Castellarin said.

Darian Quist, another student, described the panic that ensued once they understood something was seriously wrong. We barricaded the doors and sat in there for two or two-and-a-half hours. People sent disturbing photos, with blood and things like that. I think that's when it all set in, he recalled.

As the community receives the sobering news of the casualties, thoughts are turning to the long-term implications of such violence on the psyche of its residents. Norbury shared concerns about the lingering fear this event will instill: How many people will be afraid to go to school? How many will this affect for the rest of their lives?

Despite the trauma, many residents are emphasizing the need for resilience and support for one another. We are strong and we are resilient and we will get through this, said Norbury, echoing the sentiments of a shaken but united community.