Acts such as this are contrary to God’s intention and view of who we are and how we are expected to live in this world
The Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath, Moderator of The United Church of Canada, offers words of comfort at the end of a harrowing week for Canadians, but most especially for residents and families of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.
To the people of Tumbler Ridge, to communities across British Columbia, and to all in Canada who are grieving this week,
I hold you in tenderness and sorrow as we bear the weight of the devastating events that unfolded on February 10 in Tumbler Ridge, where eight people, among them children, educators, and neighbours, lost their lives in an act of unimaginable violence. The alleged shooter also died of self-inflicted wounds.
Acts such as this are contrary to God’s intention and view of who we are and how we are expected to live in this world. And it cuts at the very fabric of how we wish to live: in security, respect, and openness. Violence of this nature closes us off from one another, imposing fear and anxiety.
In a town of only 2,400 residents, each life lost ripples through an entire community, touching classmates, coworkers, friends, and extended networks of care. In the days since, we have seen vigils held in the community and across the country. Memorials have grown, bearing witness to a community that gathers in deep shared grief to carry one another through shock and sorrow.
Today (Family Day in many provinces), I acknowledge the heartbreaking truth that grief does not end when the headlines begin to fade. Trauma does not resolve in days or even weeks. The families and residents of Tumbler Ridge, and all who feel the weight of this violence across the country, will need extended care, accompaniment, mental health support, and a compassionate national response.
I offer particular prayers today for families in every form they take—parents, step-parents, grandparents, chosen family, adoptive and foster families, guardians, siblings, neighbours, church communities, and all who love these children and adults as their own. For many, this day is especially difficult. I honour the numerous ways families are made and held together, and recognize that each bears its own aching story in this moment.
As people of faith, we are called to accompany one another through the valley of deepest sorrow. We invite the whole church to hold the people of Tumbler Ridge close in prayer and action:
Pray for those who are grieving the deaths of loved ones.
Pray for those injured and for those fighting for recovery.
Pray for first responders, healthcare teams, educators, civic leaders, and all who are carrying a burden of care.
Pray for long-term healing, for trauma counsellors, caregivers, and communities who will walk with survivors for months and years to come.
Pray that fear and blame do not further stigmatize or endanger communities of identity, with particular concern for trans youth.
Let us also hold our own loved ones near today. When the world feels fragile, we remember what is precious. May we reach out to one another in gentleness, speak words of care, and create spaces where grief can be named, shared, and supported.
In the compassion of Christ,
The Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath
Moderator
The United Church of Canada