EDITORIAL – So many questions about the horrible shooting in Tumbler Ridge

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

THE HORRIBLE MASS SHOOTING at Tumbler Ridge on Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2026) has plunged the entire country into shock and mourning. Naturally, many, many questions are being asked, and few answers are so far available.

As this is being written this morning, the picture of exactly what happened at the school isn’t much clearer than it was yesterday. Understandably, authorities are very cautious about what they say in the early hours and that’s always the case when such terrible events occur. This time, however, they’ve been more reluctant than usual to provide details.

We do know that 10 people including the shooter have died, and that two dozen have been injured. Identities are being withheld as next of kin are being identified. It’s possible some identities have yet to be confirmed.

But how did it all unfold? Was the shooter male, female, young, old? In disguise? Were there previous warning signs? What was the weapon used? One can speculate that it was some sort of automatic weapon, for how else could such devastation be caused?

And that’s the problem when so little information is available — people speculate. Worse, they start making things up. The publisher of the local news outlet, Tumbler Ridgelines, has been doing amazing work informing his community as best he can but has urged people not to make the situation into a political event, nor a hateful one.

Far and away, reaction everywhere has been one of support and condolence but some have also indulged in stupid and cruel social media bluster and have even posted false information about the circumstances and the perpetrator. Meanwhile, the families, friends and neighbours of those involved experience the pain of not knowing what happened.

This is what happens in a vacuum. An early lesson, as we await more information, is the importance of providing verified facts as early as possible, and for the rest of us, of exercising caution about what we say, and patience while clarity develops.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.