Latest News & Announcements

February 11, 2026

For the students, family and staff of School District 59 Peace River South, it is impossible to express the heartbreak that our communities feel for the families who have suffered this unspeakable tragedy. We will never understand it, but what we must do is try to offer comfort in what small ways we can to those who are hurting. To the families in mourning, we hold you in our thoughts and prayers with sorrow. Your grief is profound, and your loss is beyond words. May you feel surrounded by the love of this community. Countless acts of bravery and compassion took place in the midst of this situation. Our students, staff, and so many members of emergency and medical services yesterday experienced the worst of our fears and yet responded to the very best of our hopes.

Continue to read the full message in the letter below.

Our community experienced a tragic and deeply traumatic event. We recognize that the trauma and impact of this loss are immeasurable. There is no timeline for how each of us will process this grief and immense loss, both individually and as a community. While words often feel inadequate in the face of such loss, coming together can help reduce isolation and remind us that we are not alone.

We have created a space at the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre (340 Front Street in Tumbler Ridge) to allow our school community to come together over the next few days and as needed. All will be welcome to attend and connect. Mental health professionals will be present to walk alongside and provide support. 

Our priority at this time is taking care of each other and re-establishing a sense of safety in our community. It can be especially difficult to know how to reassure our children when we ourselves are trying to process and make sense of such profound loss. Children may experience a wide range of emotions in response to what they hear or see, and they will look to the adults in their lives to help them feel safe and understand the world around them.

Over the coming days or weeks, we encourage families to remain attentive to any changes in their child’s behaviour that may indicate a need for additional support. As a parent or caregiver, you may feel unprepared to support your child during this time.

Please review the strategies and resources listed below to help guide conversations with children, with the understanding that responses will vary depending on age, development, and connection to this tragedy.

The Policy Committee is circulating the following policies for feedback. The revisions are mainly to update to current language and practices of the District. 

• 3150 Teacher Absences
• 3210 Political Activities

Feedback will be accepted until February 24, 2026. Please email feedback to the policy committee at cfennell@sd59.bc.ca.

All school district policies can be viewed on the school district website at District Policies | School District 59.

The 2026-2027 Proposed School Calendar was developed in accordance with the requirements of the School Act and in consultation with Peace River South Teachers’ Association. 

The calendar reflects the current collective agreement language around start, end, and break times with special approval for the two-week spring break. This language includes that Winter Break starts on the Monday preceding December 26th and that Spring Break starts on the third Monday in March. In addition, the 2026-2027 proposed calendar reflects the collective agreement language that all days shall be scheduled between the Tuesday after Labour Day and the last Friday in June, unless the last Friday in June falls on or before June 25th, in which case the school year will end on June 30th. 

Section 87.01 (7) of the School Act requires consultation on school calendars. A board must make public a proposed school calendar for one month prior to submitting it to the Ministry. During the consultation period, a board must provide parents and board employees the opportunity to comment on the proposed calendar before it is adopted by the Board of Education and submitted to the Ministry of Education and Child Care by March 31st. 

Written feedback must be sent to Jan Proulx before February 26, 2026 to be considered. The proposed calendar will be brought back for review in the board meeting scheduled on March 11, 2026.