SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia and Kitigan Zibi, Quebec--Victims of Tragedy

Honourable senators, our country is in mourning.

The violence that claimed the lives of teenagers and school staff in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, has shaken Canada to its core. It has shaken families, a community and our society as a whole.

High school — we can all remember our sensitivity and tender-heartedness at that age. The world can be a confusing enough place for an adult. As they are just starting to find their place in the world, it is difficult to imagine what it is like for the students of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. This is not how they should remember their time in high school.

Words are not enough in the face of such tragedy, but to remain silent would be unbefitting, unbefitting of these lives so brutally cut short, unbefitting of these shattered dreams.

The people of Tumbler Ridge will process this tragedy, but not as a breaking news story. Long into the future, the events of February 10, 2026, will be marked by their grief and suffering.

Today, this chamber joins in the collective mourning. We share the terrible heartache of the parents, relatives and friends of all those whose lives have been irrevocably marked by this tragedy.

This tragedy serves as a brutal reminder of how fragile life is, but it also reminds us of our responsibility. As Hannah Arendt’s work reminds us, responsibility begins when we refuse to look away. What is this responsibility? It is to protect our young people and those who guide them in their learning, to keep them safe and to safeguard these places of learning, which should always be spaces of trust and hope for the future. More broadly, we need to say no to violence.

May this institution, a chamber of sober second thought and wisdom, today reflect this respectful and compassionate moment of national solidarity.

Colleagues, we will have time to do our work, but today we must grieve with the nation and with the families of Tumbler Ridge. We must, in our own way, take on the burden of their suffering.

May we honour the memory of the victims with dignity, vigilance and a collective commitment to reject violence and ensure that such tragedies never happen again.

Honourable colleagues, I would also like to express my deepest condolences to the community of Kitigan Zibi and to the grieving family, friends and loved ones affected by this morning’s tragedy. Senator Brazeau, I hope you will let your community know that our thoughts are with you all at this time of mourning.

Thank you.

Honourable senators, we woke up today in profound sadness. This is one of the darkest days in our history. Our country is in mourning following two horrific tragedies. From British Columbia to Kitigan Zibi in Quebec, we are mourning the loss of innocent children.

Yesterday, a shadow fell over Tumbler Ridge that has reached every corner of this country. We must speak plainly about the weight of what was taken: nine young Canadians in the absolute springtime of their lives. These were teenagers with exams to finish, graduation gowns to order and lives waiting to be lived. Losing a child is a private agony. Having that bright promise of a town’s next generation cut short is a national tragedy.

At the same time, the community of Kitigan Zibi suffered a shattering blow. To see the lives of two young children cut short in such circumstances is a betrayal of innocence that breaks our hearts.

It is difficult to find words that match the gravity of this moment or to capture the sheer hollow silence that has settled over the entire country. There is no amount of fortitude that can prepare a parent to walk past a silent playground or a teacher to look at a classroom desk that will never be filled again.

To the families sitting in the waiting rooms today, suspended in that agonizing space between hope and fear, and to the families currently navigating the first blurred hours of grief that will last a lifetime, Canadians are with you. We do not pretend to have the words to dull your pain, but we recognize that your loss is a national loss. May the memory of the victims be a blessing, and may the survivors find the strength to carry the weight of these indescribable tragedies. Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow Canadians.

Honourable senators, a wave of shock and dismay spread across the country yesterday. In Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, a small, peaceful community was struck by an act of unspeakable brutality.

In a high school, a place that should be synonymous with learning, safety and the future, the unthinkable happened. Authorities are calling it a tragedy. Those are words we never want to hear, especially when they concern our children, our teachers and more broadly, our fellow Canadians.

Today, an entire country is gripped by incomprehension. An entire community has been plunged into helplessness and mourning. In the face of such tragedy, words always seem inadequate, but we have the power to offer our solidarity and compassion.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims, to the survivors and to the entire population of British Columbia, who today bear a burden of unimaginable weight.

We have also learned that a family tragedy has claimed three victims in the community of Kitigan Zibi, in the Outaouais region. Those victims include two children, ages ten and twelve. This tragedy, which occurred last night, has plunged an entire community into indescribable grief.

These separate tragedies remind us of the fragility of life. They also remind us of the despair that some of our fellow Canadians feel, their vulnerable state of mind and the great distress that can overtake them.

In these hours of mourning, let us stand resolutely alongside those who mourn, suffer and still seek answers that no one can fully provide. May they find, in the national solidarity we express from this upper house, some comfort and the deep certainty that they are not alone.

Our deepest condolences go out to all the grieving families. May providence grant you peace and solace.

Honourable senators, I rise today on behalf of my colleagues in the Canadian Senators Group to mark and mourn the unimaginable tragedies that unfolded yesterday in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, and in Kitigan Zibi. We are all grappling to find the right words to capture the shock and grief we all feel.

As a parent, I know this is a nightmare no one ever wants to experience. Our hearts are with the parents, families, friends and teachers of those who lost their lives or were injured. We know that every part of these communities has been affected.

We also recognize the immense and demanding role of first responders, school staff, community members and volunteers, as well as the toll that this will take on them. It is tragedies like this that remind us that, despite our vast geography and landscapes and our diverse population, Canada is one community. We are neighbours. When one part of our nation suffers such profound grief, we all feel it viscerally.

The flag that flies on the Peace Tower of our nation’s Parliament is at half-mast today, a reflection of our collective loss. The anguish of our neighbours is one that we all share. Words will not ease the loss and grief, but I hope that, by finding strength in one another, the days ahead will be less lonely and the heartache less sore.

Honourable senators, I rise today with a heart that feels far too heavy for words after the horrific tragedy that befell the students and staff of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a small community of about 2,500 people in British Columbia.

To lose a child is to lose a piece of the future. As a parent, my heart breaks for the mothers and fathers waking up today to a world that seems dark and broken. They sent their children off yesterday with a routine hug, a “see you later” and the simple expectation of safety. They could never have imagined it would be the last time.

We now know the harrowing details of what transpired in that quiet corner of northeastern B.C. We know of the chaos that erupted in the corridors, of the terrifying sound of gunfire that replaced the midday chatter and of the lives of promising young students and dedicated staff that were stolen in a matter of minutes.

This was not just a tragedy. It was a violation of the peace that every Canadian holds dear. As a former educator, I am haunted by the transformation of a sanctuary into a site of unimaginable grief. Teachers practise the drills, memorize the protocols and promise to protect the lives entrusted to us, but we never truly believe we will have to face such a frightening reality.

To the teachers and administrators who stood as shields for their students yesterday, your bravery is noted, but the burden you now carry is one no person should ever have to bear.

To the survivors — the students and staff who witnessed the unthinkable — your sense of safety has been shattered. Please know that as you begin to navigate this long, difficult road toward healing, you do not walk it alone. All of Canada, and indeed the world, stands in mourning with you.

We must also recognize the first responders, the RCMP and paramedics who ran toward the danger and bore witness to the unimaginable. We thank you for your service and your sacrifice on this, one of the darkest days in our province and nation’s history.

I also wish to acknowledge the leadership of the region, Bob Zimmer, the Member of Parliament for Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, who represents Tumbler Ridge and is currently on the ground, standing with his constituents during their darkest hour.

Honourable senators, as we move forward today, let us carry the memory of those lost in the decisions we make. Let us hold the community of Tumbler Ridge, as well as the community in Quebec and Senator Brazeau, in our prayers.

My Senate colleagues, let us hold them in our prayers and thoughts, committing ourselves to a future where such a silence is never required again.

Honourable senators, it is with a heavy heart and immense sadness that I rise today to address the chamber. As we know, my own province woke up with collective grief today — a grief shared by all Canadians due to the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.

Many details remain unknown, and many of these details may never be known. What we do know is that this tragedy has left nine British Columbians — nine Canadians — dead. It has left 25 individuals suffering with varying levels of injury. I would also — like my colleagues — like to express my thanks to the first responders who put themselves in the line of danger.

We know that yesterday’s events have left so many moms, dads, brothers, sisters, friends and extended family members facing the unthinkable: a hole in their family that will never be filled — a child, a parent, a loved one who will not be coming home.

Today, there is no healing to be done. That will come with time, the great healer of all hurts. But that time has not come today — not this time.

Gun violence in our communities and our places of learning has resulted in some of the deadliest events in Canadian history. This one has impacted children in a space that is intended to be safe and promote growth. It also stands as the deadliest attack connected to a school in nearly 40 years since the horrible and devastating events at the École Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989 that left 14 women dead and 14 more people injured.

As we stand together today in mourning, the sentiment needed now more than ever is one of love, compassion and empathy, as well as love for our neighbours, compassion for our friends and colleagues — people who are dealing with this tragedy in their own unique and equally valid way — and empathy for strangers, communities and people we do not know and may never meet. We do this because we are Canadian. What I know and believe of Canadians is that for us: Love will always conquer hate. Empathy will always prevail over apathy. And compassion will always outlive indifference.

Today, we hurt. I hurt as a representative of British Columbia, and I hurt as a Canadian — the same as you.

But through our collective grief, let us hold Tumbler Ridge close. I implore that, particularly over what unfolds over the coming days and weeks, we remember to lead with love, demonstrate empathy and exercise compassion to one another and to all Canadians.

Thank you.

Honourable senators, as I stand here today, I know we are all personally devastated by yesterday’s horrific and tragic shootings in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. My thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the friends and families of the victims from this small idyllic town who are coming to grips with their unrelenting grief and disbelief due to this terrible act of violence.

When violence touches a school, it cuts deeper than almost any other tragedy. Schools are where we send our children and grandchildren, believing they are safe, where futures are shaped and where laughter should be in the halls. This horrific act has shattered the heart and soul of this close and beautiful community. No words can undo the grief, fear, confusion and trauma of this horrific tragedy at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School for the victims and their families.

In total, nine people are deceased, including the perpetrator. Approximately 25 more people are struggling and badly injured. We pray for their lives and for a full recovery.

As a former RCMP officer, I also think of the police officers who arrived at the scene within two minutes of this catastrophe. An active shooter at a school is every police officer’s worst nightmare. They train for these moments, but in this town of 2,400 people, they also responded as parents, neighbours and members of this tight-knit community. They would have known some of the casualties and would be offering help to those still alive. Every hall cleared, every child made safe would be a blessing in the hell they would have seen.

The same can be said for the paramedics and other first responders who no doubt also had a personal connection to the victims in this little town where everyone knows each other.

Another dreaded duty of an RCMP officer is personally notifying the next of kin that their loved one is not on the list of survivors. God forbid their families hear this terrible news from the media or a telephone call.

This is the deadliest school shooting in my province of beautiful British Columbia. I know that all Canadians are grieving with the people of Tumbler Ridge because of this unspeakable tragedy.

Prime Minister Carney, provincial officials and world leaders, including King Charles, have come together to express solidarity with us as Canadians and to support this beautiful yet devastated community of Tumbler Ridge as they try to cope.

This tragedy will be forever etched in our hearts. In kindness, love and support, we will honour those affected by this terrible event. And we will never forget. Thank you.

Honourable senators, I join Senate leadership and my fellow senators from British Columbia to express my horror and sorrow at the shooting in Tumbler Ridge, which resulted in nine dead and many more severely injured.

To the families whose members’ lives were lost, I offer deepest condolences and comfort, however inadequate our condolences and comfort may feel.

To the families of those who are injured, we offer wishes for a speedy recovery, however inadequate our wishes and comfort for a speedy recovery might feel.

To the first responders, the doctors and nurses, the social workers and others who have been providing support to the families, we thank you for your service. We thank you for your dedication. We thank you for being there when your help was needed.

To the politicians and civic leaders who are speaking out with clarity, dignity and caution, I thank you for your leadership in not letting this tragedy become worse because of jumping to false conclusions about what happened in Tumbler Ridge.

And to the community of Tumbler Ridge — a community with fewer people than those who work on Parliament Hill — we offer our comfort and solidarity as if we know each and every one of you. We pledge to support you in the days and the years ahead so that Tumbler Ridge will be remembered not just as a place where a terrible shooting took place, but as a place that came together in a time of tragedy to support each other and to make each other stronger through kindness, bravery and the strength to persevere.

Honourable senators, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to the victims of the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, as well as to those in Kitigan Zibi, and to express my deepest condolences to the family, friends, loved ones and community members who are now grieving an unimaginable loss.

At times such as these, it is difficult to find words to adequately reflect the sorrow and shock that is felt not only within the communities directly affected but also from coast to coast to coast.

Our thoughts are with the individuals who lost their lives, with those who were injured and with all who are mourning the sudden and senseless loss of someone dear to them.

Behind every headline is a life forever changed, a family forever altered and a community forever touched by grief. Today is a day to pause, reflect and honour the lives affected by this unfathomable tragedy. It is a day to remind ourselves of the importance of supporting one another, especially in times of profound grief.

In acknowledging this tragedy, we also recognize the extraordinary courage and compassion demonstrated by first responders, health care professionals and members of the community who acted quickly in the face of danger and loss. Their dedication reminds us of the solidarity and resilience that can emerge even in the darkest moments. Communities coming together, offering care and support, is one of our strengths and is a testament to our compassion as a nation.

To those who are grieving, please know you are not alone. People across Canada and across the world are holding you in their thoughts, sharing your pain and sending you strength for the difficult days and months ahead. May the memory of those who were lost be honoured with dignity, and may their loved ones find strength and support in the compassion of others. May those who were injured find healing and resilience, and may the communities come together in solidarity, care and hope.

Honourable senators, I rise with a heavy heart today to tell this chamber of a family tragedy that happened last night in Kitigan Zibi. Two precious young children lost their lives at the hands of their father, who later took his own life.

The community of Kitigan Zibi, those in Maniwaki, in Quebec and beyond awoke to this devastating, incomprehensible news. I ask that everyone keep the community in their hearts as they try to process this loss.

Nothing is more valuable in this world than our children and our families. Now is not the time to make any political statements, but I do hope that governments of all levels will come to understand one day the effects of ongoing intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools in First Nation communities.

Now, those residential schools may be in the history books, and they may be in the very recent past, but the effects of those residential schools on community members, generation after generation after generation, while governments know this — they know the wrongs that were done in those schools, but what are they doing to fix it?

The effects that First Nations people suffer are real. It is in everyday lives in those communities. Perhaps governments, one day — not in a generation, not in two generations or in three generations, but very soon — will come to understand what this is doing to First Nations communities all across Canada.

So I send my most heartfelt condolences to the Tolley family and the entire community of Kitigan Zibi.

Please join me in a moment of silent prayer for these young lives.