February 12, 2026
The Days Ahead and Who We Are
To Our Wonderful Community:
These last couple of days have been hard. Likely, there will be more difficult days ahead. Our hearts are heavy as we continue to try to make sense of the unimaginable tragedy that happened in Tumbler Ridge. We are reflecting on the devastation that young people, their families, school staff, and the community must be experiencing and mourning the loss of so many. We send love and support, each in our own way, and look to our neighbours and friends to offer our care.
As more details of the tragedy have emerged, there has been a rise in online attacks on the transgender community. Sadly, at least one MLA and many online have decided to use tragedy as an opportunity to sow hate. We know from experience that when such “chatter” gains momentum, it manifests as increased anxiety, fear, and potential harassment in the hallways of our schools and in our community, even if those affected are not directly exposed to hateful rhetoric.
New Westminster School District has worked hard to create a place of security and care for all students, staff, and families who belong to the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. This commitment is a critical part of who we are. Today, trans youth and adults are navigating a landscape of scapegoating and mis/disinformation that poses a threat to their mental health and sense of safety.
A critical part of maintaining and safeguarding the community we value is wrapping our arms around any of us who are under attack. To that end, we wanted to share some resources with you that might help you care for someone you know. Please refer those in need of care to the following resources:
- QMUNITY – https://www.qmunity.ca/
- Counselling
- Community
- Resources
- Youth peer support
- Trans Lifeline – 1-877-330-6366
- Trans-specific peer support and crisis intervention.
- Transcare BC – https://www.transcarebc.ca/
- Community support
- Health and mental health resources
- Peer support – https://www.transcarebc.ca/get-involved/resources-peer-support-groups
We are a proud and diverse community. We are a community that possess great gifts and is filled with tremendous capacity for wisdom, empathy, and compassion. We are a community living with sorrow for the community of Tumbler Ridge, and for our own sense of vulnerability. We are also a community that lifts one another up. We are a resilient community. We are a community who stands together to support one another.
New Westminster School District is proud to serve our great city. It is wonderful to be part of a community that does far more than say we value equity, inclusion, and compassion. New Westminster is great because we possess the courage and tenacity to live our values.
Yours,
Cheryl Sluis
Chair, Board of Education
Mark Davidson
Superintendent of Schools