B.C. to demolish Tumbler Ridge school following tragedy

Key Takeaways:

• The federal and provincial governments will fund the construction of a new secondary school at a relocated site in Tumbler Ridge following the mass shooting that occurred in February.
• Students are scheduled to transition this month into an interim modular campus that includes eight large classrooms and five administrative units.
• ATCO Structures and Fort Modular supplied the specialized modular facilities which offer approximately double the floor space of standard temporary classroom trailers.

The Whole Story:

The federal and British Columbia governments announced plans to fund the construction of a new secondary school at a relocated site in Tumbler Ridge following extensive community consultations. The decision, led by the Peace River South School Board, focuses on the immediate demolition of the existing school building in a trauma-informed manner and the development of a permanent replacement facility. Construction activity is scheduled to begin as early as this summer, starting with the decommissioning of the current site, while provincial officials work to expedite the building process for the new school.

The decision to relocate and rebuild follows a mass shooting that occurred on Feb. 10, 2026, which claimed nine lives and left 27 people injured. During the incident, an 18-year-old former student killed two family members at a residence before opening fire at the secondary school. The victims included a 39-year-old education assistant and five students between the ages of 12 and 13. Local authorities and victims’ families advocated for the removal of the original building to to support the long-term mental health of the approximately 2,400 residents in the small mining town.

Until the permanent school is completed, students will move into a modular campus later this month. The interim facilities include eight large modular classrooms that are approximately twice the size of standard temporary trailers, with each unit designed to accommodate between 25 and 30 students. Five additional modular units are scheduled for installation by fall 2026 to serve as administrative and common spaces. The location and design of the permanent secondary school will be guided by further community feedback, with a formal design consultation plan expected to be presented to the public later this year.

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the delivery and setup of the interim modular campus was a coordinated effort between several partners, including ATCO Structures and Fort Modular.

“Students in Tumbler Ridge have endured an unthinkable tragedy, which will continue to shape the community for years to come,” said Bowinn Ma, B.C. minister of infrastructure. “We are grateful to everyone who has come together to quickly support the school community with temporary facilities, while we now take next steps to deliver a new permanent school as quickly as possible.”