Prime Minister Mark Carney and all federal party leaders will visit the community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C on Friday to attend a vigil honouring the victims of Tuesday’s mass shooting.
“At the invitation of the Mayor of Tumbler Ridge, the Prime Minister will be traveling to the community on Feb. 13 to attend a vigil in memory of the victims of this week’s tragic shootings,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
“The Prime Minister has invited leaders of all parties to accompany him to British Columbia, should they wish to do so.”
Global News has confirmed all federal party leaders have accepted that invitation and are expected to travel with the prime minister to the community.
That includes Conservative leader and Leader of the Official Opposition Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP interim leader Don Davies and Green Party MP Elizabeth May.
MPs from all parties have been signing a book of condolences that has been placed in House of Commons. The condolence book will be delivered to the community by Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer after Feb. 17.
Eight people were killed in the shooting, including six victims who were found dead at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, and about 25 others were injured.
The shooter, identified by RCMP as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, was found dead with a self-inflicted injury.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Housing Minister Gregor Robertson are in the community already, where they have joined B.C. Premier David Eby, Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and B.C. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger.
The ministers were in the remote mining town “to offer any assistance needed from the federal government in the aftermath of the devastating shooting in Tumbler Ridge.”
The officials attended a candlelight vigil Wednesday evening attended by hundreds of residents.
“Too many innocent lives taken from their families too soon. To the Tumbler Ridge community: we mourn with you and we stand with you,” Anandasangaree said in a post on X.
Robertson, a B.C. MP and the former mayor of Vancouver, said he was “heartbroken” by the tragedy.
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“This is an extraordinary community. We have witnessed remarkable compassion and care by every person we’ve met,” he said.
The B.C. government declared Thursday a day of mourning for the province, inviting residents to hold a moment of silence at noon local time.
Thursday’s scheduled throne speech in the B.C. legislature will instead focus on the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, the province announced, and the first question period of the spring session will be skipped.
Carney announced Wednesday that Canadian flags will be flown at half-mast for seven days on federal buildings following the mass school shooting. Flags have also been lowered at provincial government buildings in B.C. and Alberta.
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said Thursday that flags at all U.S. missions in Canada will be lowered to half-staff, while sharing social media images of the American flag being lowered outside the U.S. consulate in Vancouver.
“We continue to pray for all those affected by this tragedy,” he said in a post on X.
U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to join other world leaders in offering condolences to Canada.
In Toronto, the iconic CN Tower went dark on Wednesday night at the top of every hour to mark the tragedy.
“Tonight the #CNTower will dim for 5 minutes at the top of each hour in honour of the victims of the attack in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia,” the CN Tower’s official social media account posted on Wednesday.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon offered her condolences to the families of the victims.
“In this unimaginable moment of tragedy, the whole of Canada has Tumbler Ridge in its thoughts. Let us stay united in our compassion and reach out to one another with love and tenderness today, as we join the entire nation in grieving,” Simon said in a statement.
Poilievre called the shooting a “senseless act of violence.”
“I can’t even imagine the phone calls that parents might have received. I can’t imagine the heartache and hell that they’re living through at this moment,” he said.
“This is a time for all Canadians to unite, to support the families and the community at large.”
— with files from Global’s David Akin and Bryan Mullan
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Want to think that they are doing this cause its the right thing to do. But its the Liberals. They are all lies and smoke and mirrors. Very hard not to see the real reason. To promote their gun law.
Why did the shooter have access to all those guns if he was deemed a threat and there had been previous skirmishes with the law? Could this have been prevented with proper law enforcement and judiciary oversite? When does a criminals rights end? Disgruntled, angry, so what. YOU are responsable NO MATTER WHAT FOR WHAT YOU DO!
Let’s get some snipers up there.
Hi!
I’m Indigenous, so I don’t have to account for my firearms, because I “hunt” with them!
I’m sure glad I’m not a white sport shooter or hunter that has passed all kinds of tests and restrictions to own a firearm, because then the government would be going after ME!!
Gov. narrative switching from “Thoughts And Prayers” to “SEE??!?! THAT’S why we’re banning guns!!!!” in
5…4…3…2…
Federal Gov. narrative switching from “thoughts and prayers”, to “SEE?!?! THAT’S why we are banning guns!!!” in 5…4…3…2…
Hes there to rob the Graves.
Carney proving he’s a man and a true Canadian while all of his haters sit around and whine and cry about it like the treasonous cowards that they are
Carney is visiting Tumbler Ridge? I didn’t know Brookfield has any business there 🤔
Don’t bother…
Fu *k all you people. What do you expect me to do? I’m your governor….errrrrr PM.
Stay the hell out you loser. You couldn’t care less. Just looking to cover your a ss politically.
Carney is a vulture, tell count Dracula to go back to his coffin in the EU
Who cares. Just another political tactic to grab attention as a caring politician.