Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday that the federal government and British Columbia will jointly provide $200 million to Tumbler Ridge for the construction of a new high school and the renovation of the local health care centre. The community is still recovering from a shooting in February that left eight people dead.
Funding Breakdown
Each level of government will contribute $100 million. Construction on the new school is expected to begin later this summer.
Community Healing After Tragedy
Speaking alongside B.C. Premier David Eby, Carney said that Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and other community leaders indicated students are reluctant to return to the secondary school after the shooting. The attack claimed the lives of eight victims, including five students aged 12 to 13 and a female educator. The shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, also killed her mother and 11-year-old brother before taking her own life.
In May, the province announced that a new school would be built after the school board determined that returning to the existing school was not advisable.
Government Commitment
“The Premier and I went to Tumbler Ridge in the wake of the horrific shooting at the secondary school. We sat down, we heard directly from the students, their parents, their teachers, talked to the first responders, the neighbours, friends, we talked about what could be done to begin to help heal from that trauma, that loss, and unspeakable tragedy,” said Carney. “The Premier and I, amongst other things, we promised we would be there for the community as they rebuild.”
