Wednesday February 11, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 10:35 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
BC Premier David Eby and Minister of Public Safety Nina Krieger travelled to Tumbler Ridge in northeast BC today to meet with people impacted by yesterday’s school shooting tragedy.
They met with community leadership and officials on the ground and attended an outdoor vigil.
Tonight’s televised media availability about the shooting situation was held outside Tumbler Ridge Town Hall just after 7 pm.
Remarks were delivered by Eby and Krieger, along with Federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, and Darryl Krakowka, mayor of Tumbler Ridge.
Mostly the messages were about supporting people who have been impacted by the tragic shooting of eight people (one teacher, five 12 and 13 year olds at the school, the shooter’s mother and step-brother); the ninth person who died was the shooter.
One 12-year-old girl is in critical condition at BC Children’s Hospital where she was airlifted to yesterday. She is one of 27 people who incurred injuries in yesterday’s event.
Reportedly students who were inside the school at the time hid in place for over two hours. The students who were shot were in the library. One was in a stairwell.
Eby’s remarks:
Premier Eby said everyone there was committed to supporting the people of the Tumbler Ridge community.
“This is an incredibly strong community,” said Eby. “Every single person I’ve spoken to… everybody’s worried about somebody else. Every single person said ‘just make sure you’re looking after this group of people. No one is focussing on themselves here. Everybody is reaching out to support someone else in this community,” the Premier said outdoors wearing a parka jacket in the cold night weather (the temperature overnight at or below zero).
“It’s also a community that’s clearly in shock. The full extent of what’s happened has not sunk in.There are going to see some long days, weeks and months ahead.
Eby says he sees people pulling together to support parents and families who have lost loved ones.
“We’ll make sure the supports are here,” said Eby about provincial government resources as required. He tahnked Northern Health and counsellors who arrived in Tumbler Ridge, the community centre providing direct support for people.
He acknowledge “the first responders who had to attend to see this, to intervene, the staff and students in the school. — everyone who stepped up to protect and save lives”.
Eby thanked leadership at the local level, including Mayor Darryl Krakowka.
He commended the local mine that employs 1,000 people for closing operations so families could grieve together.
Provincial public safety minister:
BC’s Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said people were gathered there this evening “in sorrow and in shared heartbreak”.
She said that yesterday’s event have shaken the local community and the country to its core.
Krieger highlighted than an educator lost her life in the shooting ” doing one of the most important jobs in our society”.
She hightlighted that students witnessed things “that no child should ever see”.
“Teachers and school staff acted with courage to protect those in their care,” said Krieger.
“To first responders moved toward danger without hesitation, we stand with you, we thank you.”
Federal ministers in Tumbler Ridge:
Federal Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree travelled to Tumbler Ridge earlier today.
Tonight Anandasangaree said people are mourning the senseless deaths of so many young people. The federal government will support the local community, the mayor, the familes and the first responders and teachers, he said.
“We’re with them every step of the way,” the public safety minister said.
MP Gregor Robinson (housing and infrastructure minister) is also representing the federal government on the ground in Tumbler Ridge.
Support resources:
According to the premier’s office and the Public Safety and Solicitor General ministry, provincial resources from across British Columbia are being mobilized to Tumbler Ridge to support the community, including mental-health and victims-services professionals.
“People are on the ground now, with more en route and preparing to travel,” the government has stated.
Event update:
The February 10 shooting ended up with nine people dead and 27 injured (latest update at 6 pm February 11).
- There were 27 people injured. Two were airlifted to hospital.
- One of the injured is a 12-year-old girl with serious life-threatening injuries who is now at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
- Six people shot at the school: a 39 year old female teacher, three 12-year-old girls, one 12-year-old boys, one 13-year-old boy,
- Two people shot in their home: the shooter’s 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old step-brother.
- The shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar was an 18-year-old female (trans female, born male); she died of a self-inflicted wound.
Local MP:
As noted earlier today by Prime Minister Mark Carney in the House of Commons, the local federal Conservative Member of Parliament Bob Zimmer (Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies) is already on the ground in Tumbler Ridge.
Today Green Party Leader Elizabeth May noted the load it will be for the local MP to handle what is something so challenging locally (including at the constituency office level) and which has longer-term national scope.
BC MLA for Peace River South:
Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld issued a statement earlier today along with BC Conservative Leader Trevor Halford.
The two MLAs thanked first responders, school staff, and local officials for “their swift and professional response during an incredibly difficult situation”.
Neufeld is in Tumbler Ridge, apparently having left from Victoria as soon as he was informed of yesterday’s events.
The Peace River South constituency office will remain open to provide support for the community.
===== RELATED:
- NEWS SECTIONS: HEALTH | BC POLITICS | EDUCATION | 45th PARLIAMENT OF CANADA
- Federal ministers head to Tumbler Ridge with BC Premier & Safety Minister (February 11, 2026)
- Tributes in the House of Commons about Tumbler Ridge shooting (February 11, 2026)
- BC Premier Eby on the Tumbler Ridge shooting (February 10, 2026)
- Prime Minister Carney’s statement on the shooting in Tumbler Ridge (February 10, 2026)
- Ten dead in Tumbler Ridge shooting incident (February 10, 2026)
- Tumbler Ridge elementary & secondary schools on active shooter lockdown (February 10, 2026)