‘Serious threat’ forces cancellation of grad activities at Kootenay school

UPDATE: Mount Sentinel will be closed on Monday, as police continue to investigate

A “serious threat to the safety of…students, staff and school community” in South Slocan forced the emergency evacuation of a high school and cancellation of weekend graduation activities today.

Mount Sentinel Secondary School was evacuated by RCMP at approximately 2:45 p.m. this afternoon, says Jeff Jones, Superintendent of Kootenay Lake School District.

The exact nature of the threat was not revealed, but Jones is asking students and parents to be on guard, and not gather at the school.

“I am asking parents and guardians to be extra vigilant with regards to grad activities, parties or events where students may congregate this weekend,” he wrote.

All graduation activities planned for today and Saturday have been cancelled, and Mount Sentinel will be in contact with parents and students over the weekend in regards to school attendance next week.

Violence Threat Risk Assessment officials with the province, Nelson Police and the Ministry of Children and Family Development were all involved in the decision.

Mount Sentinel is a Grade 7-12 school 20 kilometres west of Nelson, with an enrollment of 290 students, approximately 55 of whom are in Grade 12.