News
Tumbler Ridge community reeling after shooting incident
Residents of the isolated community have expressed feelings of apprehension and unease following the deaths of nine individuals.
A devastating shooting in Tumbler Ridge, a small Canadian town, has left nine people dead and at least 25 injured, with the community reeling in shock and disbelief after the attack at a local secondary school and home.
Located 415 miles northeast of Vancouver, the remote town of Tumbler Ridge, with a population of just 2,500, was thrown into chaos as residents struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy during the school lockdown.
The close-knit community, where everyone knows each other, is now grappling with the aftermath of the shooting, which has left a profound impact on the town's residents.
According to town mayor Darryl Krakowka, the tragedy is particularly personal, as he has lived in Tumbler Ridge for 19 years and is familiar with many of the victims, stating, "I will know every victim."
Krakowka emphasized the strong sense of community in Tumbler Ridge, saying, "I don't refer to them as residents, I call them family."
Chris Norbury, a town councillor, was deeply affected by the shooting, as his wife teaches at the secondary school, his daughter attends a nearby elementary school, and he works at a visitor centre in close proximity to the school.
In an interview with the BBC World Service's Newsday programme, Norbury described the anxiety and fear he felt as he waited for news about his wife's safety.
Norbury first became aware of the situation when his daughter's school informed him of the lockdown, and he was able to contact his wife, who was also under lockdown, but subsequent attempts to reach her were unsuccessful after he received an emergency alert about an active shooter.
Norbury explained that he had to rely on social media for updates, which led to speculation and uncertainty, but he attempted to remain calm and wait for official confirmation.
However, this proved to be a challenging task, as the uncertainty and fear took a toll on him.
Norbury described the experience as "terrifying," saying, "It's difficult to put into words the dread and fear you feel when you know a loved one is in danger."
As he waited for news, Norbury witnessed emergency vehicles, including helicopters, arriving at the school and a nearby medical centre.
Darian Quist, a grade 12 student, was in a classroom with a teacher and about 15 students when the lockdown alarm sounded, and although he believes he was in a different part of the school from the shooting, he and his classmates took precautions by barricading the doors with tables.
Quist told CBC that they remained in the classroom for approximately two to two-and-a-half hours, during which time people sent him disturbing photos, which made the reality of the situation sink in.
He recalled that everyone in the classroom was tense and nervous, and the photos he received had a profound impact on him.
Quist's mother, Shelley, was working at the local hospital at the time and was in contact with her son throughout the lockdown, but she only learned about the shooter half an hour after the lockdown began.
Shelley Quist described the experience as surreal, saying, "It's one of those things you never think will happen," and added that panic set in until she was reunited with her son.
The lockdown was finally lifted after 17:00 local time, and Norbury was able to confirm his wife's safety, while Quist described the departure from the school as "organised chaos."
Despite the professionalism displayed during the evacuation, those involved were still unaware of the full extent of the tragedy until the casualty figures were released.
Quist noted that many people were shaken by the news, especially when they learned the true numbers of victims.
The town is still coming to terms with the tragedy, and although the names of the victims have not been released, it is clear that the community has been deeply affected.
Quist reflected on the impact of the tragedy, saying, "A lot of people are shaken up right now, especially when we were told the true numbers."
The close-knit community of Tumbler Ridge is struggling to cope with the aftermath of the shooting.
Norbury expressed his concern that he may have known some of the children involved in the shooting, given his role as a children's librarian for 10 years.
He emphasized the need for the community to come together and support each other, saying, "We have to think about how to rely on each other for support, as these are our friends and their children who have been injured or lost their lives."
Norbury also noted that the town has never experienced a crime of this magnitude before, and the shock is still being felt, adding, "We're a tight-knit community, and this is an incredible shock."
Norbury reflected on the long-term effects of the shooting on the community, expressing concerns about the impact on the town's children.
He wondered, "How many people will be afraid to go to school? How many will this affect for the rest of their lives?" and emphasized the need for support and resilience.
Norbury offered a message of hope, saying, "If I could talk to those people, I'd say, don't let this define you. Please get help when you need help. We are strong and resilient, and we will get through this."
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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