Quick Read
- Nine people died, including the suspected shooter, in a school shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.
- Approximately 25 others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, with two airlifted due to serious conditions.
- The incident on February 10, 2026, is Canada’s deadliest school-related attack in nearly 40 years.
- B.C. Premier David Eby called it a ‘devastating and unimaginable tragedy,’ urging national support for the community.
- Trauma and crisis response teams, including counsellors and nurses, have been deployed to Tumbler Ridge.
TUMBLER RIDGE (Azat TV) – A horrific school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on Tuesday afternoon, February 10, 2026, resulted in the deaths of nine people, including the suspected shooter, and left 25 others injured. The tragedy at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which serves students in Grades 7 through 12, marks Canada’s deadliest school-related attack in nearly four decades and has sent shockwaves across the nation, occurring amidst a period globally defined by increasing instability and evolving risks.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed that officers, responding to an active shooter alert, found six victims dead inside the school. Two additional victims were discovered at another location, and a ninth person succumbed to their injuries en route to the hospital. The individual believed to be the shooter was also found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. Two individuals sustained serious or life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to hospitals, while approximately 25 others received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at a local medical centre.
Emergency Response and Community Support in Tumbler Ridge
RCMP Supt. Ken Floyd, North District Commander, stated that the shooter had been identified, but their identity was not immediately released. Details regarding the number of child or adult victims and the type of weapons used were also withheld. Emergency services from surrounding areas, including Alberta-based STARS Air Ambulance, swiftly responded to the scene, though STARS did not transport any patients. The active shooter alert was lifted by 5:46 p.m. PT.
The District of Tumbler Ridge released a statement acknowledging the “deeply distressing incident” and expressing gratitude for the rapid response of emergency services. The district emphasized the community’s strength and caring nature, encouraging residents to support one another through the difficult processing period ahead. Tumbler Ridge Elementary and Secondary Schools will remain closed for the remainder of the week as the community begins to heal.
Official Reactions to the British Columbia Tragedy
B.C. Premier David Eby described the event as a “devastating and unimaginable tragedy” during a press conference Tuesday night. He urged British Columbians and all Canadians to extend love and support to the people of Tumbler Ridge, recognizing that the impact of the shooting would “reverberate for years to come.” Nina Krieger, B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, echoed these sentiments, stating that the “shock waves of this horrific event will continue to reverberate through the community and throughout the country for some time.”
Minister Krieger confirmed that education ministry staff were in continuous contact with the school district and were actively mobilizing trauma and crisis response supports, including trauma-informed counsellors and psychiatric liaison nurses, to assist affected families and students. Larry Neufeld, the MLA for Peace River South, promptly left Victoria to return to his riding, assuring constituents that he was in direct contact with the Solicitor General to ensure all necessary provincial resources were made available to support local law enforcement and emergency responders.
A Local Event in a Global Context of Rising Risks
The Tumbler Ridge shooting stands as a grim reminder of the profound societal challenges that can manifest locally, even as the global landscape is increasingly defined by complex and interconnected risks. This incident, the deadliest attack connected to a Canadian school since the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, underscores vulnerabilities that resonate with broader trends of instability observed in recent years. The year 2025, for instance, was characterized by increased geopolitical instability, the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence, and a changing labor market, as noted in analyses of global risks. Such events, while tragic and deeply personal for those affected, contribute to a wider narrative of societal strain and the critical need for robust public safety measures and comprehensive mental health support.
The tragic events in Tumbler Ridge highlight how local crises can reflect deeper societal tensions and vulnerabilities, aligning with the broader global context of increased instability and evolving risks that decision-makers are currently grappling with. Such incidents underscore the urgent need for communities to strengthen social cohesion and enhance support systems in an era marked by complex and unpredictable challenges.