Dear Parents and Caregivers,
As we continue to mourn alongside our neighbours in Peace River South School District and the community of Tumbler Ridge, our hearts remain with all who have been impacted by this profound tragedy. Flags across our district have been at half‑mast in honour of the victims, their families, and the entire community. We will also continue to ensure that students and staff who need support have access to caring professionals and safe spaces within our schools.
I want to express our sincere appreciation for the increased visibility and support of our local service agencies and RCMP over the past days. Their presence has been reassuring for our school communities and reflects the strong partnerships that help keep our students and staff safe.
We recognize the fears and concerns these recent events have understandably raised. I want to assure you that the safety and well-being of students and staff continues to be our highest priority. Over the past one to two years, our district has made significant enhancements to school safety, with additional improvements underway or planned. These measures include:
- Strengthening building access control systems
- Enhancing emergency communication tools and processes
- District-wide training on recognizing and reporting worrisome behaviours
- Expanding and refining our practices for critical incident response and follow-up
Our work does not stop here. We are committed to ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Child Care, provincial safety specialists, and districts across British Columbia to ensure we remain aligned with current and emerging safety standards, research, and best practices.
We also know the importance of sharing information while being sensitive to the trauma many are experiencing and maintaining the responsible confidentiality required around our safety practices and systems. Updates will be provided as appropriate, and always with careful consideration for both transparency and safety.
The RCMP detachments in our district have been responsive and compassionate. The Williams Lake detachment has shared the following message for families:
“In light of the tragic events in Tumbler Ridge, detachments across the province have been taking steps to support their communities and enhance the public’s sense of safety.
Across BC, detachments have provided an increased visible presence around local schools as a precautionary measure to reassure students, staff, and families, and to be available to answer any questions from the public. We have taken this same approach in Williams Lake and our communication lines with the Cariboo Chilcotin School District remain clear and open.
Of note, there has been no specific threat identified in our area. We are confident that our schools continue to be safe and any enhanced presence is simply part of our ongoing commitment to public safety and community support.
The BC RCMP continues to assist the Tumbler Ridge RCMP detachment, and our thoughts remain with the victims, their families, and the entire community affected by this tragedy.”
We ask families to continue during this time to limit children’s exposure to media coverage of the tragedy. Such coverage can be overwhelming and retraumatizing, particularly for younger students. Please also be gentle with one another, reach out for help when you need it, and remind your children, and yourselves, that seeking support is a sign of strength.
Our district remains committed to fostering safe, caring, and compassionate schools. Thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate this difficult moment together.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Lenardon
Superintendent
Cariboo-Chilcotin School District