Tumbler Ridge Updates

Posted: March 11, 2026

The Tumbler Ridge SD59 StrongStart will commence programming on Monday, March 30, 2026. For now, the program will run from 10:00 am-12:00 pm.

Cara McLean, the StrongStart Facilitator will welcome families to the temporary space located at Tumbler Ridge Strong Child and Youth Centre (Tumbler Ridge Place), 215 Main Street on the 2nd floor. There is space for strollers downstairs. Please follow signage for direction. 

Please email Cara McLean at camclean@sd59.bc.ca for inquiries. 

More details will be posted on Cara’s Facebook page for Tumbler Ridge StrongStart families.

March 5, 2026

A Q & A document was prepared to help answer some frequently asked questions as students return to school communities. 

February 27, 2026

The Ministry of Infrastructure has connected with the president of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), John Chenoweth, as they have a mobile trades training unit. NVIT is the only First Nations public, post-secondary institution in British Columbia.  It is located in Merritt, and they have offered to lend it to us for the rest of the school year. It will arrive in the coming days with an instructor who will orient our staff to the operations of the trailer. The trailer will be located in the Phase 2 plan.

February 25, 2026

School district staff have been phoning families and sharing information today.  The following information was provided in follow up to the phone calls.

One question that came from both elementary and high school parents was how the two schools will work together on the same site?  The two schools will have different start, break and end times to help control traffic.  Parking will be clearly identified.  The two schools will operate separately with separate facilities. 

At the Elementary School
Students at Tumbler Ridge Elementary will return to learning on Thursday, February 26th and Friday, February 27th from 10:30am to 1:00pm.  On Monday, March 2, students will return to their regular schedule.  Gym classes will resume as normal and the gym use during the day will be for elementary students. Students recess and lunch will be at normal times and plans will be made for students to go outside as usual.  Safety around the construction zone has been carefully planned, with fencing and barriers in place to prevent students from accessing unsafe areas.

To start with, all students will enter and exit through the front door. A team will be at the door to welcome your child/children. Doors will be locked throughout the day. A phone number will be posted on the front door to access the school office. Guardians and guests wishing to gain access to the school will need to call the number to gain access. 
Interior cameras are running in the elementary school, and a more robust system is underway including interior and exterior cameras. Mountainview Safety Services have been contracted to maintain a perimeter around the entire school campus, including the elementary school and the phase 1 and phase 2 areas for high school students.

At the High School
Tomorrow, Thursday, February 26th students and families/caregivers are welcome to visit the new portable space between 10:30 and 1:00. 
On Friday, February 27th, students will be welcome to attend for one block between 10:30 and 1:00. This will be their B block focusing on 1 course at a time to start with. Lunch will be from 11:30 am – 12:00 pm. Specific information around lunch time and breaks will be shared with student when they return. We are working on determining which portable your child will be in. We will have a team working outside to help your child find their portable. Next week, the tentative plan will be for students from 10:00 am-2:00 pm but this may change based on needs. The school will communicate with updated schedule information as we move forward.

Each portable has 2 entry points, and each door will be locked at all times. Staff will welcome students at the beginning of the class block and after lunch. Two Safer School Liaison staff will be on site until spring break as well as district counselling team.

Mountainview Safety Services have been contracted to maintain a perimeter around the entire school campus, including the elementary school and the phase 1 and phase 2 areas for high school students. An external camera system will be installed. RCMP has conducted a security review of the area, and the Safer School Coordinator has worked with the administration around safety planning.

The Tumbler Ridge Secondary portables will each have a handheld radio which have each been assigned to a single channel. If there is a need to call an alarm, all portables will receive the same verbal message simultaneously. A Muster Point has also been allocated.

Dear parents and caregivers, this time has been incredibly difficult, and you may have many questions.

On Wednesday, February 25th, district staff will reach out directly to Tumbler Ridge parents and caregivers to share information about our three phased approach: returning to learning spaces, return to learning and then the broader community consultation sessions that will happen towards the end of March.

The District team will be reaching out directly to answer any questions about students’ schedule, the return to learning plan, and the safety, security, and supports available.

Updated information will continue to be added to our SD 59 Website. https://www.sd59.bc.ca/

Please ensure your contact details are up to date in the MyEd. If they are not, please send your updated information to mqiu@sd59.bc.ca or jendicott@sd59.bc.ca

Parent Trauma Recover Sessions

Parent and caregiver trauma recovery sessions are available Wednesday, February 25th presented by Safer Schools Together. These sessions are intended for parents and caregivers only and registration is required.

Tumbler Ridge Elementary

Tumbler Ridge Elementary will be open for students on Thursday, February 26th and Friday, February 27th from 10:30am to 1:00pm. More detailed information will be sent directly to families, including directions around drop-off and pick-up protocols.

Please note, the doors will be locked throughout the day.

Tumbler Ridge High School – Phase 1 Portables

Thursday, February 26th will be the first opportunity for students and families/caregivers to return to the new portable space between 10:30 and 1:00. In addition to the on-site security, a camera system will cover the portable space.

On Friday, February 27th, students will be welcome to attend for one block between 10:30am and 1:00. On Wednesday, we will let families know which block we are starting with, and which portable to they will attend.

On-Site Security and Safety Planning

Mountainview Safety Services have been contracted to maintain a perimeter around the entire school campus, including the elementary school, and the high school the phase 1 and phase 2 areas. Interior cameras are running in the elementary school, and a more robust camera system is underway.

The RCMP has conducted a security review of the portable area, and the Safe School Coordinator has worked with the administration around safety planning.

Distributed Learning

If you are interested in exploring Distributed Learning (online learning) you can also call the following numbers to access this from home.

We will have more information available in community for you to explore, this is an option.

• 250-219-6368 (Registrar)
• 250-782-5585 ext. 21138 (Secondary 9-12 Office)
• 250-782-0122 (Elementary K-8 Office)
• 250-262-6751 (Principal)

Fax Number 250-782-7221

E-mail spdls@sd59.bc.ca

Email to Parents February 18, 2026 (11:25 am)

Dear Families

As we are planning a return to school (and more information will follow tomorrow about next week), we also realize that not everyone will be able to return so we want to offer different pathways to education.  If you are thinking that you may want to be in a distributed learning model (distance learning) we want that to be an option for you as well. If you choose to enroll for Distributed Learning it does not mean you have to stay there; you can return to regular classes at any time. 

A representative from the South Peace Distributed Learning (SPDL) School will be available at Tumbler Ridge Elementary School to meet with students and their guardians today, February 18th, as well as Thursday and Friday, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., to assist with program registrations.

SPDL is School District No. 59’s distributed learning school, offering Ministry approved and accredited programming for students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. All SPDL learning opportunities will be accessible to students in Tumbler Ridge.

To support diverse learning needs, students may choose between two pathways for completing their courses:

• Distance Learning: Completing the course fully at home.
• Hybrid Learning: Working primarily from home while accessing in person support at the school site as needed.

We are committed to ensuring that every student has access to flexible, quality learning options as we navigate the coming weeks and months.
Please call Mr. Aaron Harper, Principal of South Peace Distributed Learning, at 250-262-6751, to schedule an appointment.
 

(Email to parents was distributed on February 16, 2026 at 4:04 pm)

(https://news.gov.bc.ca/33362)

February 16, 2026 4:25 PM - News Article

Students and their families can expect to see the first temporary school facilities begin arriving in Tumbler Ridge on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.

The new facilities will be set up on the grounds of Tumbler Ridge Elementary school. The first single-wide trailers to arrive will be the first phase in the resumption of classes in a safe environment for Tumbler Ridge Secondary students.

“We know routine and community are important to many in the aftermath of a tragedy and we know change can cause uncertainty,” said Chad Anderson, chair, Peace River South School Board. “We are continuing to use a compassionate, trauma-informed approach that includes providing updates to the school community, families and the public about a planned return to school in the coming days. As we prepare to restart classes, the safety and wellness of students, staff and the whole school community continue to guide everything we do.”

The first buildings to arrive at the new site will be bathroom trailers, followed by classroom units on Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Wednesday, Feb. 18. There will be 14 units in total. It is expected to take several days to set the units up for water and heating and to furnish them for returning students and staff, depending on weather conditions and other factors.

A date for classes to resume in Tumbler Ridge has not yet been confirmed. School officials recognize and respect the fact that some members of our school communities are looking forward to getting together again soon, while others may need more time.

Work to prepare a more permanent learning space with more spacious double-wide school trailers has begun at the elementary school site, as well. These structures are set to arrive in the coming weeks and will serve Tumbler Ridge Secondary until community input, expert advice and future plans can be confirmed.

“We are working around the clock to ensure the school district has what they need to support students and their families,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “I am grateful for the effort and co-ordination from all the partners who’ve come together to make these temporary spaces happen, including Peace River South School District 59, staff from the ministries of Education and Child Care, and Infrastructure, BC Wildfire Service, Fort Modular, ATCO Structures, CBRE and DBI Transport.”

Counsellors will support staff and students in the safe transition to these new buildings. Once classes resume, counsellors will continue to be available at the new school site. Counselling and trauma supports continue to be available at Tumbler Ridge Community Centre.

“I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, every person who has been supporting the community of Tumbler Ridge,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care. “Thank you to School District 59 and the board of education who have been working closely with the Ministry of Education and Child Care to ensure students, families, teachers and staff will have a safe transition back to school when they are ready. Thank you to the Safer Schools Together team for your expertise, ensuring a trauma-informed response has guided our actions.”

The Peace River South School District and the Province will continue to update students, parents, educators and the community on next steps as the community begins to heal and re-establish a sense of safety.

Email to Parents - February 16, 2025 (4:16 pm)

Good morning families,
We want to acknowledge that our team has worked carefully and thoughtfully to gather student belongings from the lockers and classroom spaces. Every effort has been made to locate and collect these belongings as best as possible.

Families are welcome to come for collection today, February 17th, see details below. A team will be on site to support you through the process.

Time:
12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Location:
Tumbler Ridge Elementary School, 
355 Monkman Way

Email to Parents - February 16, 2025 (11:39 am)

Families are welcome to come for collection today, February 16th, see details below. A team will be on site to support you through the process.

Time:
12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Location:
Tumbler Ridge Elementary School, 
355 Monkman Way

We are grateful for the strength and compassion shown by our students, families, and community. We will continue to walk along-side you and provide support as needed.
 

February 13, 2026

Dear Families,

As we head into the weekend, we want to reach out again to all our families. These early days continue to be incredibly difficult, and our priority remains supporting our deeply impacted community. With our community partners, we will continue to offer support for students and families at the rec centre, open daily from 8:00am–10:00pm.

We know some families will want the stability of school routines, while others may not feel ready. We will share plans over the next week that prioritizes emotional and physical safety through a trauma informed lens. As we create our plans, the expectation is that we will not be returning to the current high school site.

Please continue to talk with your children about healthy coping strategies and how they can support themselves and others with kindness. With ongoing public attention, we encourage conversations about limiting exposure to media coverage, as it can be distressing. This is also a good time to reinforce digital safety if they see something or hear something, they should report it to a trusted adult or through the ERASE Report It tool. We ask parents and caregivers to help reinforce the message: “report it, don’t repost it”.

Sincerely,
Christy Fennell
Superintendent

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.

February 11, 2026

Dear Families,

Today, 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 for 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:

Location: Tumbler Ridge Community Centre, 340 Front Street Tumbler Ridge
Time: Starting at 10:00am

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.

We are sharing below some strategies and resources to help guide conversations with children, with the understanding that responses will vary depending on age, development, and connection to this tragedy.

Resources are attached in the pdf below.