People in the small Canadian town of Tumbler Ridge are in shock after nine people were killed and at least 25 wounded in a shooting at a local secondary school and a home. Situated 415 miles northeast of Vancouver, this remote community—a close-knit enclave of about 2,500 residents—was unprepared for this somber tragedy. Town mayor Darryl Krakowka spoke about the fear and uncertainty that enveloped the community during the chaos, emphasizing the intimate connection everyone shares, stating, 'I will know every victim.' Chris Norbury, a town councillor, described his personal anxieties as he awaited news on his loved ones when the lockdown alarm sounded. 'It was terrifying... the dread and the fear that you feel knowing that a loved one is in danger,' he said. Students, including Darian Quist, shared their harrowing experiences of barricading themselves in classrooms for hours, unaware of the full scope of the violence outside. Tumbler Ridge, typically regarded for its low crime rates, now faces the haunting reality of profound loss and the urgent need for healing. 'We are strong and we are resilient,' Norbury concluded, urging the community to support each other in this unprecedented time of grief.