Parents of students are sharing their reactions and support of the move to tear down and rebuild Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
On Thursday, the provincial government announced it will demolish the school building that was the site of a mass shooting in February, and replace it.
Speaking to the press in Victoria Thursday, Eby said the decision comes after the local school board consulted with students, educators, staff, and parents.
Dennis Campbell’s 12-year-old daughter was at the school when the mass shooting happened, and nearly became one of the victims.
He says, despite being a graduate of Tumbler Ridge Secondary himself, rebuilding the school is important for students’ mental health.
“Putting them in a new school, I think, would help them all just to help them get their education,” said Campbell.
“And they don’t have to worry about that building anymore. Maybe if they put a memorial up there or something like that for the people.”
He says sending students back to the old school would re-trigger trauma, distract them from learning, and force them to relive the events.
“What I’m worried about is mental health,” said Campbell.
“You put those kids back in that old school; they’re not going to learn anything. They’re going to be wondering about everything else but school.”
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Campbell says it will be an important part of the healing process, and students deserve a fresh start so they can focus on school and not the memories of that dark day.
“I personally wouldn’t want my kids to go back to that school just because of the trauma, and what would have to happen back at home, and the counselling that the kids would have to go through again,” he said.
“It’s not fair to the kids at all.”
The province says the new school will be rebuilt at a totally different location, with support from the federal government to cover the costs.
Premier David Eby says there isn’t a timeline yet, and students will remain in portable classrooms for an extended period until a new building is ready.
—With files from Michael Williams and Emma Crawford