Tumbler Ridge Families Weigh Return to School Two Weeks After Tragedy

Two weeks after the mass shooting that devastated Tumbler Ridge, B.C., families are confronting one of the most difficult steps in the healing process: deciding how and when children should return to school.

Temporary classrooms opened this week to staff and students as part of a gradual re-entry plan led by the B.C. Ministry of Education and Child Care and School District 59.

For many, the decision is far from simple.

Nicole Noksana, chair of the Tumbler Ridge Parents Advisory Council, has children in both the local elementary and secondary schools. She says the grief remains fresh across the tightly knit community.

“As a small town, we’re very interconnected with families here,” Noksana said. “It’s still very raw.”

The Feb. 10 shooting claimed eight lives, including six children and an education assistant. In the weeks since, residents have been attending funerals, supporting grieving families and trying to adjust to life in a changed community.

Balancing routine and readiness

For some students and families, returning to school offers a sense of stability.

“There are definitely students who are ready, and families who are ready to have that structure and routine,” Noksana said.

But others remain hesitant, grappling with fear and unanswered questions about safety.

“We’ve been advocating for answers before kids are back in these buildings,” she said, noting that the temporary portable classrooms differ significantly from the original school structure.

Questions around lockdown procedures, security protocols and overall safety have been central to parent discussions.

In response, the ministry says a gradual return is being implemented, with flexible options including in-person learning, online education or a hybrid approach.

Security personnel have been hired to maintain a presence around the temporary facilities and the town’s elementary school. Officials say trauma recovery sessions are being provided for staff, along with opportunities to familiarize themselves with the new classroom spaces before full instruction resumes.

“This gradual return is intended to support students and school staff where they are at,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Some will be ready and some will not.”

Community support continues

The Parents Advisory Council has also launched a fund to assist families directly affected by the tragedy. Noksana said many households are facing immediate financial pressures — from funeral expenses and travel costs to lost income and housing payments.

“There’s a lot of very real costs,” she said.

Meanwhile, mental health services remain available to residents and have been centralized at the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre.

School District 59 board chair Chad Anderson said students and families are being invited to tour the temporary classrooms to better understand the safety measures in place.

“Our hope for staff and students is just that they have a comfortable and safe learning environment to come back to,” Anderson said.

The District of Tumbler Ridge has asked media and the broader public to respect the privacy and dignity of those affected as the community moves forward.

Healing at an individual pace

For Noksana and her family, attending a classroom tour is part of making an informed decision.

She emphasized that teachers, like students, should not feel pressured to return before they are ready.

“I don’t want anyone to feel pressured to come back to work before perhaps they’re ready,” she said. “They deserve this time to heal before they come and focus on our kids.”

As Tumbler Ridge begins the gradual process of reopening its schools, the path forward remains deeply personal for each family — shaped by grief, resilience and the search for a sense of safety in the aftermath of tragedy.