Mr. Speaker, this past Tuesday, innocence was lost. Not expecting the unimaginable horrific events that would take place that day, parents packed lunches and sent their children to school. Precious lives were taken, and many other people were injured in an act of devastating, brutal and senseless violence.
Long after the political statements are made, the flags are raised and the cameras are gone, this day must forever be etched in our hearts and minds because the families in Tumbler Ridge are forever changed. They are now facing the unimaginable grief of silent classrooms, of empty seats around the dinner table, and of parents replaying the last goodbye and wishing they had held on to their child just a little bit longer or told them they loved them. The sorrow we feel is almost too heavy to bear.
On behalf of the families in my riding of Cariboo—Prince George, many of whom, like mine, have friends and relatives in Tumbler Ridge, I extend our deepest condolences. To the students whose sense of safety has forever been shaken and lives forever changed, we are here for them. To the teachers whose courage and selflessness saved lives, to the first responders who ran towards danger to protect others, and to the nurses and other health care workers who treated the wounded, I say that they are truly heroes and that we owe them a debt of gratitude forever.
It is on us as a nation to wrap the community of Tumbler Ridge in our collective arms, to lift it up, to hold it in our hearts and to never forget.
I say to my colleagues to hold their loved ones a little tighter today and never miss an opportunity to tell them they love them.
