Texas shooting aftermath: Attention turns to Calgary school safety, youth mental health support
Texas shooting aftermath: Attention turns to Calgary school safety, youth mental health support
Texas shooting aftermath: Attention turns to Calgary school safety, youth mental health support
After a massacre at a Texas elementary school, some are looking into safety protections against gun violence in Calgary's school system while mental health experts are offering advice for difficult conversations about mass shootings.
Grief is pouring out over the 19 elementary school children and two teachers who were shot dead Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Officials say the 18-year-old shooter was armed with an AR-15 style weapon, and was killed by a border patrol agent at the scene.
"It's absolutely horrific," said Martina Kanciruk, a registered psychologist who practises with children and youth in Calgary.
"I can only imagine how terrifying it would be."
Tragically in the United States, school shootings are not uncommon.
Just 10 years ago, the deadliest mass shooting at a U.S. elementary school took place at Sandy Hook in Newton, CT., with 26 lives lost.
In 2018, a gunman opened fire at a high school in Parkland, FL., killing 17.
SCHOOL SAFETY PRACTICES
Schools across North America, including here in Calgary, now practise drills for active shooters.
Preparation for violent attacks is encouraged, doors are locked frequently, and police officers are assigned to school buildings.
"We are in a situation where that could happen here and that's not to fear monger. That's the prevention piece that we have of trying to make sure that everyone is prepare that if a situation did arise in a school, that for safety," said Tad Milmine, a student resource officer with the Calgary Police Service (CPS).
"Everyone knows what to do."
Milmine says his role is to connect with the student body and to intervene early when signs of potentially criminal or dangerous behaviour are spotted, and called his work gratifying for its ability to make a difference in young people's lives.
In a statement to CTV News, the Calgary Board of Education says, "Ensuring that schools are safe for students and staff is critically important to all school boards."
"Calgary Board of Education schools are required to have plans in place to respond to specific emergency situations such as fire drills, lockdowns, off site evacuations and external threats," it read.
"CBE and other school boards worked with the Calgary Police Service to develop our lockdown protocols and ensure they are consistent across the city."
The Calgary Catholic School District also utilized active shooter drills and student resource officers to minimize anxiety for responses to threats.
"CCSD also has counsellors in all of our junior high and high schools, as well as wellness workers in our elementary schools, that are available to speak to students or parents who have any anxiety or concerns," read a statement.
"The safety of our students and staff is CCSD's top priority."
Both school boards say they are grieving with the victims of the Texas shooting and all those affected.
CHILD MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT ADVICE
Such extreme events can cause children to be distressed or feel unsafe at their schools and child mental health experts say honest conversations can help alleviate the mental toll.
"Saying 'don't worry' doesn't fix the problem. It actually makes people worry more," said Martina Kanciruk.
She says it's better to instead express understanding that it must feel scary and to offer to talk about what happened.
Kanciruk says it's important to acknowledge their worry, then explain that the likelihood the tragedy could happen to them is not likely, to balance the risks and the realities of being ready for the worst case scenario.
"If we don't talk about things, all we end up doing is having a generation of youth that push feelings down, that push their thoughts down, and don't learn how to talk about them, process them or get their questions answered," she said.
CANADA SEES SCHOOL VIOLENCE
While school shootings are rare, Canada isn't immune to violence.
On May 18, CPS responded to Bowness High School to arrest a student accused of bringing a stolen handgun and ammo to school in a backpack.
No one was hurt, there was no lockdown.
The youth has been charged with six offences in relation to carrying a concealed weapon, unauthorized possession, careless use and tampering with a serial number.
However, the initial school memo sent to parents after the incident didn't say there was a firearm involved, sparking concerns about transparency from the school.
Principal Jana Macdonald sent a new letter on Wednesday, saying she was responding at the direction of law enforcement and details were ultimately up to CPS to disclose.
Macdonald added it's important to be as transparent as possible and student safety is paramount.
Details of the incident were filed with the Calgary Police Commission during its public meeting on Wednesday.
In those details submitted it said, "subsequent investigation revealed student was likely seeking attention and not motivated by violent tendencies."
An Ontario community is reeling after a 23-month-old boy died when he was accidentally left in a hot car outside the school where his mother taught, the mayor says.
Canada will add 74 more people and businesses in Russia and Belarus to its sanctions list, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday as he met other G7 leaders in Germany to discuss the threat to global security posed by the invasion of Ukraine.
Ottawa's mayor is warning the city won't tolerate any illegal activity downtown during Canada Day festivities this year, as the city prepares for possible protests.
Scores of civilians were feared killed or wounded in a Russian missile strike Monday on a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian officials said.
Organizers of a central Alberta rodeo and its parade committee are calling for calm after a float in this weekend's parade, which possessed a racist theme, was seen in the procession.
Several cars on an Amtrak train derailed in Mendon, Missouri, on Monday after hitting a dump truck at a crossing and there are early reports of injuries among the approximately 243 passengers on board, Amtrak said in a statement.
A Sherwood Park masseuse who was charged earlier this year after a girl reported being sexually assaulted during a massage appointment is facing additional charges after 13 more victims came forward.
Leaders from four First Nations in central Alberta say the Pope's upcoming visit can help the world understand the impacts and intergenerational trauma that the residential school system inflicted on Indigenous people.
The agency that oversees the majority of British Columbia’s 911 calls is anticipating one of the busiest summers on record for emergency services and first responders.
Nova Scotia is expanding eligibility for second COVID-19 booster doses to include anyone aged 50 and over, however health officials are suggesting people wait to book appointments until the fall.
The Nova Scotia SPCA is asking for support from the community to help five dogs who are in desperate need of care. The SPCA says the dogs were recently rushed to urgent care after they were found starving and dehydrated.
An Ontario community is reeling after a 23-month-old boy died when he was accidentally left in a hot car outside the school where his mother taught, the mayor says.
An Ontario man whose car was stolen from his driveway in midtown Toronto twice in three months is revealing how he tracked and located his second vehicle.
An Ontario man says he’s been in a “helpless” years-long battle with the RBC, and is now in debt and on the hook for more than $8,000, after someone stole his debit card and guessed his PIN.
The federal government has signed an agreement with Quebec to provide $221 million in funding for long-term care homes in the province to address 'gaps in infection control' and staffing issues highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Montreal's mayor and a provincial opposition party leader are warning that the city's affordable housing shortage is going to get worse if more money isn't made available.
An Ontario community is reeling after a 23-month-old boy died when he was accidentally left in a hot car outside the school where his mother taught, the mayor says.
Ottawa's mayor is warning the city won't tolerate any illegal activity downtown during Canada Day festivities this year, as the city prepares for possible protests.
A report headed to city council in Greater Sudbury this week says the estimated cost to build Junction East -- a new art gallery and library downtown -- now sits at $98.5 million.
OPP say an arrest warrant has been issued for a 20-year old Hamilton man after a man was shot late Friday night on Manitoulin Island and later died from his injuries.
J.W. McDonald Auto Service has had a few names over the years but it has always been able to provide vehicle service to Winnipeggers. But now, the Exchange District staple is gearing down and set to close its doors for good.
A Canadian ride-share service marketed as a discounted, regional alternative to Uber has shut down, with management pointing to the pandemic and soaring fuel prices as factors in its demise.
A seven-year-old Regina boy is being treated for serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle at a bus stop in Regina on June 21, according to an online fundraiser.
A 28-year-old man on a bicycle was seriously injured Sunday evening after being hit by a pickup truck near the intersection of Garnet St. and Dewdney Ave., the Regina Police Service (RPS) said in a news release.
