Tumbler Ridge Vigil Unites Leaders and Community in Mourning After Tragedy
In a powerful display of unity that transcended political divisions, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre stood together with British Columbia Premier David Eby at a Friday night vigil in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The solemn gathering brought together at least 1,000 residents who formed a semicircle around the town hall, holding lanterns, candles, and photographs of the victims lost in Tuesday's devastating mass shooting.
A Community in Shock Emerges Together
For three days following the horrific events of February 10, 2026, the downtown area of this mountain-and-mining district had been largely empty as residents stayed away while media descended upon the community. But on Friday evening, the town emerged as one, filling the space around their municipal building as an elder sang a prayer to the fading daylight. Row upon row of community members joined hands, creating a physical manifestation of their collective grief and resilience.
The shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School claimed the lives of five students and science teacher Mark Deeley, while shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar also killed his mother Jennifer Jacobs (Strang) and stepbrother Emmett Jacobs earlier that same day. The tragedy has left this close-knit community reeling, with psychological scars that will undoubtedly last for generations.
Stories of Heroism Amidst Tragedy
Premier David Eby, serving as the final speaker at the emotional vigil, shared the remarkable story of teacher Mark Deeley's actions during the lockdown. As Eby related to the gathered crowd, Deeley's own son had just left for the bathroom when the lockdown protocol was initiated. Despite knowing his child was outside the classroom, Deeley followed the safety procedures they had practiced, jamming a chair against the door to secure his students.
"The needs of the entire class outweighed the one kid who had to leave," Eby explained, highlighting the teacher's selfless decision-making in a moment of crisis. But Deeley's heroism didn't end there. Soon after securing the classroom, he left its safety to search for people who needed help, eventually bringing an injured student back to the classroom where he and some students administered first aid.
Eby chose to frame the tragedy through this lens of simple, everyday heroism, emphasizing how ordinary people can perform extraordinary acts under unimaginable pressure.
Political Unity in the Face of Grief
Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the importance of his and Poilievre's physical presence in Tumbler Ridge, telling residents, "We want you to hear that Canadians are with you, and we will always be with you. We wanted you to hear that whatever portion of your sadness that Canadians can bear to help ease your heavy load, we will gladly do so."
Carney praised teachers for "shielding their children" and first responders for arriving on the scene within just two minutes of the emergency call. He described the community's response as "grace" - that essential quality of compassion and support that emerges when "the world falls apart."
Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre joined Carney in this message of national solidarity, with both leaders setting aside their political differences to deliver a united front of support for the grieving community.
Promises and Practical Support
Premier Eby made a significant promise to the assembled townspeople, many of whom were students and teachers from the affected school: "Not one of you will ever be forced to go back to that school." This commitment acknowledged the profound psychological impact of the shooting and the potential trauma associated with returning to the scene of such violence.
The emotional weight of the tragedy was further illustrated by Gerald Krauss, pastor at Tumbler Ridge's New Life Assembly Church, who recalled watching families reunite at the hockey rink next to the school on Tuesday - and the heartbreaking sight of parents fruitlessly searching for their children in the impromptu staging area. "We're not going to get through it," Krauss said solemnly. "It'll just be us having to live with the consequences."
As the vigil concluded and the community continued to process their collective trauma, the message from their leaders remained clear: Tumbler Ridge would not face this tragedy alone, and the nation stood ready to share their burden of grief.
