‘An unthinkable tragedy’: Manitoba reacts to B.C. mass shooting

Flags are flying at half-mast outside of Winnipeg city hall to honour the victims of the Tumbler Ridge school shooting in British Columbia.

Reaction is pouring in from across Manitoba after a mass shooting in northeastern British Columbia left multiple people dead.

In a social media post Wednesday, Premier Wab Kinew said his thoughts are with the people of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., including students, educators, families and first responders.

Nine people were killed and about 25 others injured in Tuesday’s shooting. RCMP said seven people—including the suspected shooter—were found dead at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Two additional victims were discovered inside a home believed to be connected to the incident.

“Schools should always be places of safety and care,” Kinew said, calling the shooting an “unthinkable tragedy.”

“Manitoba stands with our friends and relatives in British Columbia as they grieve this heartbreaking loss.”

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said Wednesday that flags at City Hall will be lowered in solidarity with the grieving community. He also said he reached out to Tumbler Ridge’s mayor to offer condolences on behalf of Winnipeggers.

“Our hearts break for the victims, their families, the students and staff who endured unimaginable fear, and for an entire community now grieving,” Gillingham wrote.

Sherry Benson-Podolchuk, a retired RCMP officer from Gimli, Man., described the shooting as a “tragedy beyond words.”

“As a mom, I can’t imagine. You send your kids to school thinking they’re coming home on the bus fine,” she said. “It will have a ripple effect through the entire community—that sense of safety is gone.”

Benson-Podolchuk urged patience as investigators continue their work, noting police must be careful about releasing information that could compromise the investigation.

“These are young people whose lives have been taken away—their goals and their dreams are gone,” she said. “Families and friends really need lots of mental health support.”