President’s message

By Carole Gordon, BCTF President

When the March edition of Teacher magazine went to print, the atmosphere in our classrooms and union was markedly different. We were at semester turnaround for many, perhaps parent/teacher interviews in elementary, and the Executive Committee was reviewing and recommending the new tentative agreement. Since then, an unfathomable tragedy occurred at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School where a shooter took the lives of 8 people and injured 27 more.

As a mother and a teacher, this news was devastating. Teachers dedicate their professional lives to creating a sense of safety for students in their classrooms. Unexpected violence upends that sense of safety.

My heart is especially heavy for the families who have lost a loved one. The loss of so many young lives, as well as the loss of a colleague from BC General Employees' Union, is felt far and wide across this province.

Tumbler Ridge is a small, tight-knit community. Everyone in that community is affected by the immense loss and trauma. Traumatic events like this have far-reaching impacts. Teachers across the province and throughout the world have shown incredible grace, compassion, and empathy in their support for students and colleagues.

Sadly, the shooter’s gender identity is now being politicized and used to create more division when we all need to come together and support each other. At a time when we should abhor violence, this tragedy and the lives lost are being used to spread prejudice, putting some members of our community at increased risk of harm. To our trans and gender-diverse members, I want to be very clear: your union supports you and will stand up for you. We care for you, we value you, and we are committed to your safety. We will walk this challenging path with you. You are not alone. To our students, there are thousands of us teachers across the province who support you. We believe in you and celebrate how you choose to show up in our schools and classrooms.

Grief has no timeline, and many of us will be grieving and processing this tragic event in the weeks and months ahead. I want to encourage you to access the supports available to you through your extended benefits, the union, and your community.

The BC School Counsellors’ Association Executive Committee has also compiled a list of resources for teachers to reference in supporting students through traumatic events. Students inevitably look to their teachers for guidance during challenging times. The work of helping students navigate this tragedy is difficult, heavy work. Thank you to each of you for the care and compassion you bring into your classrooms each day, holding space for the grief, anxiety and fear for your students and for each other.

Our hearts are with every teacher, student, parent, support staff worker, paramedic, first responder, health care worker, and community member in Tumbler Ridge.

In solidarity,

Carole Gordon

BCTF President