The Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, site of a devastating mass shooting, is set to be demolished and replaced by a new high school at a different location. Students will begin the fall semester in modular classrooms as construction gets underway.
Community Consultation and New School Plans
The federal and provincial governments announced Thursday that the existing school, where a shooter killed five students and a teaching assistant, will be razed. A new Tumbler Ridge Secondary School will be built on a new site, with the design and location finalized after community consultations later this year.
Modular Classrooms for Immediate Needs
In the interim, students are being moved to larger modular classrooms on a neutral site. These units, which will be in place by late May, offer more space and comfort than the current temporary trailers. By fall, five additional modular buildings will provide administrative and common areas.
“The community in Tumbler Ridge has persevered and shown such strength,” said federal Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson. “We are focused on providing the students with the support they need and a new school will help make that happen.”
Background of the Tragedy
On February 10, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed her mother and half-brother at home before going to the high school, where she shot five students and an educational assistant, then took her own life. The decision to demolish the school followed discussions between the school board, victims’ families, students, teachers, and experts.
Support from Provincial and Local Leaders
B.C. Premier David Eby stated, “Building a new school is an important step in providing students and staff a healing and supportive place to learn and work.” The plan has support from local MLA Larry Neufeld and Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka, who emphasized the community’s role in the decision.
Demolition of the existing school, built in the mid-1980s, could begin as early as this summer, with the province working to fast-track construction of the new facility.
