One month after a mass shooting at a high school in the small community of Tumbler Ridge, the investigation into what happened continues.
The RCMP did not agree to an interview with 1130 NewsRadio, but in an emailed statement, says officers are still sifting through evidence.
“The RCMP investigation will conclude only once all investigative avenues have been exhausted and the evidence suggests there are no additional leads to follow. It’s impossible to provide a specific or detailed timeline as it is subject to the gathering of all digital and physical evidence and any analysis,” said Staff Sgt. Kris Clark.
Clark adds that the RCMP would be participating in the upcoming Coroner’s inquest, which will begin once the Mounties finish their work.
“Where recommendations are made by the Coroner, the RCMP will conduct a thorough review of those recommendations to determine any implications as well as how best to undertake implementation, if necessary. In some cases, our own internal review may result in similar recommendations which are either already implemented or in progress by the time the inquest occurs.”
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Meanwhile, Chad Anderson, chair of the Board of Education at School District 59 (SD59), tells 1130 NewsRadio everyone is healing on their own timeline.
“I’m sure students and staff are at different places individually. People would have experienced that terrible day in different ways and are recovering at different speeds, but we’re thankful we’ve had a good return to classrooms,” said Anderson.
The district brought in single-wide trailers as temporary classrooms while a decision has yet to be made on what to do with the school building. Students and staff are not expected to return to the site of the shooting.
“There are two sets of portables. First, some single-wide ones will be in use until Spring Break, and then there was a second set installed very promptly as well that are more traditional double-wide classrooms, but still portable classrooms, which are on the elementary school property,” said Anderson.
“We anticipate using those for Secondary students for the foreseeable future. But in terms of consultation on the longer-term plan, that’s something we’re doing with a group called Safer Schools Together.”
Anderson explained that the organization is a trauma, counselling and critical incident response team.
“They’re going to be meeting with families in the community to bring back some recommendations for long-term plans.”
He says the group is also trying to help SD59 figure out how to memorialize the victims.
“They will give us some advice on what past experience shows is the best way to move forward in a trauma-informed way so we’re not adding to pain in the community but bringing forward ideas that will be well received and beneficial over time.”
Anderson says specialized mental health and trauma counselling resources were brought in the day after the Feb. 10 shooting.
“That was human beings in the community meeting with people. Then the infrastructure came next and was the first set of portables… and we’ve been really fortunate to receive a trades training trailer, as well.
Despite everything that’s happening, Anderson says there have been some bright spots along the way.
“As people are coming back to school, some people are just appreciating getting back face-to-face with students. And students that are attending in-person classes are happy to be present with their fellow classmates and get back to their education. And for those who are not ready to return to classroom education, we’re also offering distance learning, so we meet every student where they’re at.”
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Earlier this month, B.C.’s Chief Coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan announced an inquest into the shooting, described as an “open, independent forum to examine the circumstances surrounding these nine deaths.”
Baidwan adds it will look into a wide range of areas, including mental health services, emergency response and coordination, firearms oversight and how information online is shared with police.
“Everything that everyone out there is speaking about in the media and all the things concerning people will be represented in the inquest.”
A coroner’s inquest is a formal court proceeding with a jury, which hears evidence and testimony and makes non-binding recommendations aimed at preventing a similar situation from happening again. Baidwan admits there’s a backlog of inquests in B.C. right now, but remains adamant that Tumbler Ridge is a priority.
Soon after the shooting, the RCMP confirmed two guns were used. A long gun and a rifle that had been modified were seized at the school. A shotgun, seized among several other firearms, was found at the home. Investigators believe the shotgun was used in the homicides of the two family members at the shooter’s home.
“Our investigation has also determined the main firearm believed to be used in the mass shooting at the school has never been seized by the RCMP and its origin is unknown. Efforts continue to identify the owners and source of all other firearms,” said the RCMP in a statement.
The shooting took place over a few minutes in the early afternoon. Nine people were killed, including students, an educator and two family members of the shooter — Jesse Van Rootselaar — who also took her own life. More than two dozen others were injured.
—With files from David Nadalini