The local high school in La Loche, Sask., is closed on Friday following a recent stabbing incident that involved two individuals being injured as a result.
In a release, La Loche Mayor Georgina Jolibois said that a student has stabbed and injured another student and a staff member at the Dene High School.
According to a statement from the Northern Lights School Division (NLSD), the two injured people are being treated by health officials and the Saskatchewan RCMP has a person in custody.
“The school community is safe and there is no current threat to them,” stated NLSD Director of Education Jason Young.
“Supports will be available to our school community and we will provide an update as we are able to.”
Young said on April 20, 2023, at approximately 2:30 p.m., there was a physical altercation between two students. In the process of that altercation, an educational assistant intervened to try to break up the fight which led the stabbing of the two victims.
“You’ve got individuals that are reliving the traumatic experience they had from the past. And so, I think that certainly played out,” he said. “It’s a challenging time for sure … (we’re) making sure that they are receiving the supports that they need to deal with the situation and to just process it.”
In 2016, four people were shot and killed by a 17-year-old local boy and several others were also injured.
Young said long-term efforts are needed to ensure supports are there to support the community. It’s something that will be advocated for to both levels of government. Until then, students will likely return to school by Wednesday.
Global News will provide further details when they are available.
— with files from The Canadian Press