La Loche Community Marks Decade Since School Shooting with Reflection and Renewed Purpose
Ten years have passed since the tragic events that shook the small Saskatchewan community of La Loche to its core. On January 22, 2016, a school shooting at Dene High School claimed four lives and left seven others injured in a devastating act of violence that reverberated across Canada.
A Decade of Quiet Anniversaries Gives Way to New Tradition
For the past ten years, Dene High School has remained closed each January 22nd, standing as a silent memorial to the tragedy that unfolded within its walls. This year marked a significant shift in how the community approaches this painful anniversary. On Thursday, exactly one decade after the shooting, students, staff, community members, and school administrators gathered together at the school for the first time on this date since the tragedy.
The gathering featured a lunch, speeches, and a solemn moment of silence. Those in attendance focused on commemorating the resilience of all those impacted by the events of that fateful day while looking toward the future with renewed purpose.
"We are taking the opportunity to remember those that were affected, but also reflect on what we have done, and how far we have come as a school," said Dene High principal Donna Janvier during the commemorative event.
Transforming Grief into Positive Action
Northern Lights School Division director of education Jason Young explained that the school had been closed each January 22nd since the shooting to "support healing." However, he announced a significant change in approach moving forward. Beginning next year, the school doors will remain open on each anniversary for a day of service and educational activities integrated into classroom learning.
"Staff and students wish to use this day to recognize those who have contributed positively to the school and celebrate La Loche as a community," Young stated, outlining the new vision for future anniversaries.
Remembering the Victims and the Legal Aftermath
The shooting began just before 1 p.m. on January 22, 2016, when 17-year-old Randan Dakota Fontaine shot his cousins, 17-year-old Dayne Fontaine and 13-year-old Drayden Fontaine, at their home. He then proceeded to Dene High School, where he killed teacher's aide Marie Janvier and teacher Adam Wood.
Fontaine, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was sentenced as an adult in February 2018 for:
- Two counts of first-degree murder
- Two counts of second-degree murder
- Seven counts of attempted murder
He received a life sentence with no chance of parole for 10 years—the maximum penalty for a youth sentenced as an adult. The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in October 2019, and in April 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear a further appeal, exhausting his legal options.
At that point, a publication ban on Randan Fontaine's identity was finally lifted. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, this ban should have been removed when he was sentenced as an adult, but the judge had granted an extension until all appeals were resolved.
A Community's Journey Toward Healing
The tenth anniversary gathering represents more than just a memorial service—it symbolizes the community's ongoing journey toward healing and resilience. By transforming the anniversary from a day of closure to one of service and positive action, La Loche is creating a new legacy that honors the victims while building a stronger future.
As the community reflects on the decade that has passed since that tragic day, they are consciously choosing to focus not only on what was lost, but on how they have grown together, supported one another, and found ways to move forward while never forgetting those who were taken too soon.
