‘Tumbler Ridge is full of grace’: Carney, Poilievre put politics aside and mourn with a town in shock

At a Friday night vigil in Tumbler Ridge, children were remembered, and stories of heroism were shared

Prime Minister Mark Carney paid tribute to the victims killed in Tuesday’s mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. at a vigil on Friday, February 13, 2026 in Tumbler Ridge. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia

Through the words of British Columbia Premier David Eby, the folk legend of Mark Deeley was revealed to the masses.

Eby was the final speaker at a vigil in Tumbler Ridge Friday night, as a crowd of at least 1,000 residents made a semicircle around the town hall.  And he spoke of Deeley, a science teacher at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where five students and a teacher were killed by shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar Tuesday afternoon. Van Rootselaar also killed his mother, Jennifer Jacobs (Strang), and stepbrother Emmett Jacobs earlier that day.

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As Eby related, Deeley’s son had just gone to the bathroom, but the teacher knew the protocol. They’d practised lockdowns in the past. He was to lock the class as quickly as possible. So, Deeley jammed a chair against the door, leaving his son outside. The needs of the entire class outweighed the one kid who had to leave.

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But Deeley soon left the safety of that class, and his son soon left the bathroom. Both looked for people to help. Deeley brought an injured student back to the class and, with the help of some students, administered first aid.

This is how Eby chose to remember that Tuesday, with a story of simple heroism. And then he made a promise to the townspeople who had gathered, some holding lanterns, some holding candles, some holding photos of the victims:

“Not one of you will ever be forced to back to that school,” Eby promised, understanding the psychological scars of Feb. 10 could be too much to bear for many of the students and teachers.

Eby’s promise followed Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, who buried the political hatchets and brought a united message: That Canada as a whole supports the people of Tumbler Ridge. For the better part of three days following the shooting, the downtown of this mountain-and-mining district has been devoid of townspeople. Locals have stayed away while the throngs of media took over.  But, on Friday night, the town emerged as a whole, filling the area around town hall. Row upon row of community members joined hands as an elder sang a prayer to the fading light in the sky.

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Gerald Krauss, the pastor at Tumbler Ridge’s New Life Assembly Church, recalled how moved he was when he saw families reunited Tuesday at the hockey rink next to the school — and how it broke his heart to watch the moms and dads fruitlessly searching for their kids in the impromptu staging area.

“We’re not going to get through it, ” said Krauss. “It’ll just be us having to live with the consequences.”

People pay tribute to the victims killed in Tuesday’s mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. at a vigil on Friday, February 13, 2026 in Tumbler Ridge. Greg Southam-Postmedia Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia

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‘Always be with you’: PM

Carney said it was important that the people of Tumbler Ridge heard from the national party leaders, not through television screens, but in person.

“We want you to hear that Canadians are with you, and we will always be with you,” said Carney. “We wanted you to hear that whatever portion of your sadness that Canadians can bear to help ease your heavy load, we will gladly do so.”

He praised teachers for “shielding their children” and first responders for being on scene in two minutes.

“You helped each other, as you’re holding each other right now. This is grace. It’s what we do for each other. It’s what we receive from each other — open hearts when the world falls apart.

“Tumbler Ridge is full of grace this evening.”

Carney remembered the five students and teacher who were killed, then took a moment to remind Canadians that the shooter’s mother and stepbrother were also victims.

People pay tribute to the victims killed in Tuesday’s mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. at a vigil on Friday, February 13, 2026 in Tumbler Ridge. Greg Southam-Postmedia Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia

Carney closed by saying that Tumbler Ridge will not be forgotten.

“Know that millions of Canadians are with you. When the cameras leave and the quiet sets in, know that we will still be here … because Canada is a community that relies on each other’s grace.”

Poilievre praised Carney for putting political differences aside and inviting all federal party leaders to join him on the tour of this embattled community.

“The Prime Minister spoke of grace,” said Poilievre. “And indeed Prime Minister, you have shown tremendous grace by bringing together the leaders of all political parties, flying us here together as one. We all lead political parties. But, today, there are no Conservatives. There are no Liberals, New Democrats, Greens or Bloc Quebecois. We are all, as we were on that plane together, mothers and fathers. We all watched our kids go to school, expecting them to come back safely.”

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And he said to the people of Tumbler Ridge: “You witnessed an incredible horror that will be indelibly marked in your memories. Out of that, you showed incredible, relentless courage. Teachers who barricaded kids, and protected them from the shooter. Students who protected each other and showed incredible bravery, to the first responders.”