By The Canadian Press

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, Carney to attend vigil in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Friday

Feb 13, 2026 | 1:00 AM

OTTAWA — Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has confirmed she will join Prime Minister Carney at a vigil Friday to honour the victims of a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

Nine people died in the shooting on Tuesday at a home and school in the town of about 2,700 people in northeastern British Columbia.

The offices of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP interim leader Don Davies and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May have all told The Canadian Press they have accepted an invitation from Carney to join him at the vigil.

Five students were killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School — Kylie Smith, Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert and Abel Mwansa Jr., all 12, and Ezekiel Schofield, 13.

Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39, an education assistant at the school, was also killed there.

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The RCMP say 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar shot her mother Jennifer Jacobs, 39, and stepbrother Emmett Jacobs, 11, at their home before going to the school. She took her own life after police arrived.

More than two dozen people were injured, including two airlifted to hospital.

The mother of 12-year-old Maya Gebala said Thursday there was hope as the girl fights for her life in hospital in Vancouver with bullet wounds in her head and neck.

Leann Fletcher, whose 19-year-old sister Paige Hoekstra was the other injured student flown to hospital, said in a Facebook post her sister was shot once in the chest and was out of surgery.

Police have said the shootings were random, with victims found in a stairwell and the library.

Carney and the other party leaders delivered statements in the House of Commons on Wednesday, promising unity and their full support for the town and the families of the victims.

A book of condolences has been made available in the House of Commons for MPs to write messages for the people of Tumbler Ridge.

B.C. Conservative MP Bob Zimmer, whose riding includes the town, is expected to present the book to the town sometime after it is removed from the House on Feb. 17 — the same day flags at federal buildings will stop flying at half-mast in honour of the victims.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said in a statement on X that all flags at American consulate buildings in Canada will be flown at half-mast to honour the victims of the shooting.

U.S. President Donald Trump did not extend public condolences to Canada after the shooting, as many other world leaders did.

The RCMP have said officers previously made multiple visits to the shooter’s home for mental health concerns and once to seize weapons, which were later returned.

A long gun and a modified handgun were found in the school after the shootings, and Mounties have said they are working to determine where the weapons came from, who owned them and whether they were legal.

Police said Van Rootselaar was assigned male at birth but began to transition six years ago. Four years ago, she dropped out of school.

The community held an initial vigil Wednesday night.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2026.

— With files from Brenna Owen in Tumbler Ridge.

Canadian Press staff, The Canadian Press