Canada mourns Tumbler Ridge shooting

OTTAWA, Feb. 13, 2026 — Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, to attend a vigil for victims of this week’s school shooting in the remote mining town, his office said, as Canada mourns one of its deadliest mass attacks in years, according to Reuters and CBC News.

Police say the gunfire left nine people dead, including the shooter, and more than 25 injured; victims were found at the high school and at a nearby home tied to the suspect, the Associated Press reported, with Reuters detailing the attack sequence.

Investigators probe motive and gun access

Authorities say the motive remains unclear and that the suspect first went to a home before moving to the school, according to the BBC, while police and provincial officials continue to brief the public on the investigation, Reuters reported.

Police had responded to prior calls involving the suspect’s household and mental health concerns, and firearms were seized and later returned after a lawful appeal, Reuters said, details echoed in the BBC’s account of the investigation.

Community and political response

In the small town of about 2,400, memorials have sprung up as families grieve, and relatives have begun sharing memories of the children killed in the attack, according to The Guardian, with Reuters noting flowers and stuffed animals appearing at public memorials.

Carney invited leaders of all major parties and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to attend Friday’s vigil, and Parliament paused for a moment of silence as party leaders issued statements, CBC reported.

Broader questions on safety

School shootings remain rare in Canada, which has stricter gun-control laws than the United States, the Associated Press noted, as the country grapples with the scale of the tragedy.

Officials said police reached the school within minutes of the first call, a swift response that authorities say likely saved lives, according to the BBC and the AP.

A vigil in Tumbler Ridge and continued briefings from investigators are expected in the coming days as Canada observes official days of mourning and reviews how warnings, mental health care and firearm oversight intersected in the run-up to the attack, with updates from Reuters and CBC.

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