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PM Offers Support to Community at Tumbler Ridge Vigil
A vigil was attended by Canada’s prime minister, who was joined by federal leaders, and during the event, he paid his respects to the eight individuals who lost their lives.
A vigil was held in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, where Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined hundreds of mourners to pay tribute to the eight victims of a recent mass shooting in the town.
On Friday, Prime Minister Carney visited Tumbler Ridge, accompanied by other federal leaders and Canada's Governor-General Mary Simon, in a demonstration of national solidarity.
Addressing the crowd, Prime Minister Carney expressed his condolences, stating that Canadians stand with the community, and will continue to do so, as they mourn the loss of six young school children and two others.
The town is still grappling with the aftermath of the attack, with many residents visibly distraught and seeking comfort from one another as they listened to Prime Minister Carney and other leaders acknowledge their grief.
Some residents declined to speak to the media on Friday, citing the overwhelming presence of journalists in their typically quiet town, nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
Prime Minister Carney had initially planned to attend the Munich Security Conference, but cancelled his trip in response to the shooting, prioritizing his presence in Tumbler Ridge.
According to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Prime Minister Carney extended an invitation to other federal leaders to travel with him to Tumbler Ridge, promoting a unified front.
In his remarks at the vigil, Pierre Poilievre emphasized that, despite their political affiliations, the leaders had put aside their differences, saying, "Today, there are no Conservatives, Liberals, New Democrats, Greens, or Bloc Québécois."
Prior to the vigil, Prime Minister Carney and other leaders met with the families of the victims and first responders, and laid flowers at a memorial near Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which has grown significantly over the past week.
The vigil was attended by families of the victims, local residents, and individuals from nearby communities in northern British Columbia, who came to pay their respects.
Colaina Hall, who drove two hours from Fort St John to attend the vigil, expressed her shock, saying, "I never thought something like this would happen here," and described the close-knit nature of their community.
Hall described the situation as "devastating," reflecting the sentiment of many in attendance.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the suspect in the shooting, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the school.
In an update on Friday, the RCMP stated that they do not believe the suspect targeted specific individuals in the attack.
According to RCMP deputy commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the suspect's actions were more akin to "hunting," as they engaged with anyone they encountered.
Police have seized a total of four firearms in relation to the shooting, with two recovered from the suspect's home and two from the school.
Authorities had previously stated that they were unsure how the suspect obtained the weapons used in the attack.
It was reported that Van Rootselaar had a firearm license that expired in 2024.
The suspect's mother, Jennifer Jacobs, also known as Jennifer Strang, held a license to purchase and possess guns, but there were no registered firearms under her license, according to deputy commissioner McDonald.
McDonald noted that certain types of firearms are exempt from registration under the law.
A 2021 Facebook post from Jennifer Strang mentioned the suspect's interest in guns, as discovered by BBC Verify.
A relative's 2021 post shared an image of the suspect holding a hunting rifle.
Deputy commissioner McDonald stated that police are still investigating how Van Rootselaar obtained the guns used in the attack, particularly the firearm believed to have caused the most significant damage at the school.
McDonald declined to provide details about the primary gun used at the school, citing its unknown origin and potential involvement of other parties in its procurement.
Earlier in the week, police revealed that Van Rootselaar, who had transitioned six years prior, had a history of mental health struggles and had been admitted for psychiatric evaluation.
Guns had been seized from the suspect's home in the past, but were returned after a successful petition by the owner.
Deputy commissioner McDonald clarified that the guns used in the attack were not among those previously seized by police.
The RCMP released an image of the suspect to counter misinformation circulating on social media about the attack and the suspect's identity.
The school remained closed on Friday as the investigation continued, with deputy commissioner McDonald hoping to conclude the inquiry soon, acknowledging the town's need to heal.
A total of nine people, including the suspected shooter, lost their lives in the shootings, comprising five children and one adult educator at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, as well as two family members of the suspected shooter at a local residence.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the identities of those killed at the school: 12-year-old Kylie Smith, 12-year-old Abel Mwansa, 12-year-old Zoey Benoit, 12-year-old Ticaria Lampert, 13-year-old Ezekiel Schofield, and 39-year-old teacher Shannda Aviugana-Durand.
Zoey Benoit's family described her as "resilient, vibrant, smart, caring, and the strongest little girl you could meet" in a statement shared by the police.
Benoit's family remembered her as a source of laughter and joy, saying, "She brought so much laughter and smiles in her presence," and expressed their devastation at her loss.
Ticaria Lampert's mother, Sarah Lampert, shared that her daughter was just two months away from her 13th birthday during a news conference on Thursday.
Sarah Lampert affectionately referred to her daughter as "my tiki torch," describing her as a bright light in darkness, whose presence was always noticeable.
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Test your knowledge with our Valentine’s Day sports challenge
On February 14th, individuals can commemorate the holiday by participating in a quiz that incorporates a theme of love.
February 14th is here, and to mark the occasion, we're inviting you to test your knowledge with a quiz inspired by love and relationships.
We've compiled a list of seven sports personalities with names linked to Valentine's Day – see if you can identify them all.
For more quiz challenges, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also register for updates to receive new quizzes directly on your device.
As we look back to 2016, we're putting your sporting knowledge to the test – how well do you recall the major events from a decade ago?
The Women's Super League has featured numerous teams over the years – can you recall the names of every single one that has participated?
For an extensive range of sports-related quizzes, head over to our Sports Quizzes page.
The UK experienced a darts craze in the 1970s and 1980s, with the sport frequently featured on television and its top players becoming well-known figures.
However, by 1989, the sport's popularity had begun to wane, with the world championship being the only event still broadcast on television.
In 1993, several top darts players, dissatisfied with the British Darts Organisation's efforts to maintain the sport's television presence, decided to break away and establish their own competitions.
This breakaway group eventually became the Players Darts Council in 1997, and it now oversees the sport's most prominent tournaments.
John Lowe MBE, a three-time world darts champion, was among the players who rebelled against the British Darts Organisation, and he recently shared his insights with Tim O'Callaghan.
The Sporting Witness series delves into the history of sports, using archival footage and firsthand accounts to recreate pivotal moments. Each nine-minute episode transports listeners to a bygone era, exploring memorable wins and losses through the eyes of those who lived them.
Recent episodes of Sporting Witness have examined a range of fascinating topics, including the early days of the Women's World Cup, a boxer's unlikely matchup against a plasterer, and the story of a man who swam the Amazon river. The series also profiles renowned athletes, such as decorated Paralympians, top tennis players, and trailblazing figure skaters, shedding light on their remarkable achievements and stories.
(Photo: John Lowe in action at the 1993 Darts World Championship. Credit: Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images)
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England Faces Murrayfield Test as New Era Begins
England enter the match with significant momentum, while Scotland are looking to rebound from a difficult experience, yet the rich history of rugby’s oldest Test fixture between the two nations is unavoidable.
Finn Russell is one of only two players from Scotland's matchday 23 that defeated England at Murrayfield in 2018 who will be involved in the upcoming match.
A single pass changed the course of the game, leaving England's defence reeling and redefining the trajectory of the match.
Prior to 2018, Scotland had not beaten England at home in 10 years and had failed to score a try against them at Murrayfield in 14 years.
The historical record between the two teams was even more dismal for Scotland, with only three wins in their previous 29 meetings.
The oldest international rugby fixture was beginning to show signs of fatigue, with the rivalry losing some of its luster.
However, 31 minutes into the 2018 Calcutta Cup match, Russell unleashed a long, looping pass that caught England's defence off guard, allowing Huw Jones to break through and create a scoring opportunity.
The resulting try, scored by Sean Maitland, marked a turning point in the match and sparked a new era of competitiveness between the two teams.
Scotland went on to win the match 25-13, and since then, England have struggled to regain the upper hand, winning only two of their last eight meetings.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday, 14th February at 16:40 GMT.
The match will take place at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
Live commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app.
What was once a relatively easy win for England has become a challenging benchmark that they have struggled to reach in recent years.
As soon as the Six Nations schedule was released, England's trip to Murrayfield was identified as a crucial match that could make or break their title aspirations.
Despite their past struggles, England are currently on a 12-match winning streak and are focused on the future, rather than dwelling on past defeats.
They have developed a strong squad with significant depth, which has allowed them to overcome injuries and other setbacks.
England's centre position, once a concern, is now a strength, with Ollie Lawrence available but not selected for the matchday 23.
Joe Heyes has established himself as a high-quality tight-head prop, allowing England to absorb the loss of Will Stuart to injury.
Flanker Tom Curry, a key player for England, will start on the bench.
England have a number of options available, and their momentum is building, but they still have some doubts to address, particularly in regards to their ability to win away from home.
Captain Maro Itoje returns to the England starting XV to face Scotland.
George Ford has been working to maintain his fitness and stay competitive at fly-half, even at the age of 32.
The rivalry between Scotland and England is not just about the current teams, but also about developing the next generation of players.
England's winning streak has been built on some close victories, including a win over France in last year's Six Nations that was aided by French errors.
Their one-point win over Scotland in the same tournament could have gone either way, with Finn Russell missing a late conversion attempt.
England's autumn campaign included wins over Italy and Wales, as well as a two-Test series victory over Argentina, but the Pumas were not at full strength.
England's win over New Zealand was a highlight of their autumn campaign, but the All Blacks were not at their best, having recently changed coaches.
England's current run has been built largely on home wins, and they now face a challenge in breaking their away losing streak against Scotland.
If they fail to win, their upcoming away matches against France and South Africa will become even more daunting.
England's team includes some relatively inexperienced players, such as Henry Arundell and Tommy Freeman, who will face a tough test against Scotland.
Guy Porter, with only eight caps, will be targeted by Scotland's experienced flanker Jamie Ritchie.
Luke Cowan-Dickie's line-out throwing has been inconsistent, and England's replacements did not have the desired impact against Wales last week.
These are minor concerns, but England will still need to address them if they are to overcome Scotland.
In contrast, Scotland are dealing with more significant issues, including a recent defeat to Italy that has raised questions about the team's future.
However, Scotland still have some experienced players, including Finn Russell and Huw Jones, who were part of the team that beat England in 2018.
These players will be looking to draw on their past successes to inspire their team to victory.
Russell and Jones are the only two players from the 2018 matchday 23 who will be involved in the upcoming match, and England will need to find a way to break their link to the past.
England must find a way to overcome the historical significance of the match and the experience of Scotland's key players.
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Former England player Chris Ashton's team selections have been met with surprise by some, including Scotland's John Barclay.
The Sport's Strangest Crimes podcast explores the "Bloodgate" scandal and other unusual stories from the world of sport.
The most recent episode of the Rugby Union Weekly podcast is now available to stream.
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