Five schools in Fort Saskatchewan were put under a “hold and secure” protocol Monday morning as RCMP responded to a robbery at a convenience store.
The hold and secure was issued for Fort Saskatchewan Elementary, Fort Saskatchwan Christian, Fort Saskatchewan High, École Parc Élémentaire and Next Step Senior High-Fort Saskatchewan.
READ MORE: What’s the difference between a school lockdown and a hold and secure?
RCMP said officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at the 7-Eleven at 10303 99 Avenue at 10:15 a.m. A man went inside and approached staff with a handgun, demanding money. He ran away with cash and was last seen travelling east on foot. RCMP said no one was hurt.
RCMP are looking for the suspect, described as a heavyset man with blue eyes, about 5′ 11”. He was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with a Metal Mullisha logo, jeans, white gloves and light-coloured shoes or boots.
In a notice to parents — and in a message on Twitter — the City of Fort Saskatchewan said RCMP were on scene at the downtown 7 Eleven where a robbery took place.
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Just before noon, the city said the hold and secure at the schools had been lifted.
“The hold and secure has been lifted at our Fort Saskatchewan schools,” Elk Island Public Schools said on its website. “All affected schools are returning to regular activities.”
A hold and secure occurs when there’s a threat in the general vicinity of a school, but not on, or very close to school property. Examples might include a crime in progress, police pursuit or search in the same neighbourhood as the school.
While the city referred to the action as a “lockdown,” the school division website called it a “hold and secure.”
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