It Was To Be A Safe Place Until It Wasn't

In this first episode of season five for "A Pane In The Glass Podcast" I'm sharing news and thoughts of a tragic loss of lives in a small town in the Rocky Mountains of the province of British Columbia, Canada called Tumbler Ridge. When most of those lives are young lives, it puts into sharp perspective everything else we might feel is important. 

Transcript

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Welcome to a very different episode of a pain in the glass podcast. This is your host, Bill Shearhart, chartered professional coach with Coaches of Canada, parent, grandparent, and former school teacher. And as you can tell by the sound of my voice, this is not going to be a happy episode. And most people, especially if you are hearing this episode in Canada, know what has happened. For those of you who are regular listeners in other parts of North America, especially our friends in the United States and around the world, because this podcast really does have legs. Earlier this week, a shooter entered the high school of a little town in the Rockies of British Columbia called Tumblr Ridge, fired their weapon, killing eight individuals, most of them aged twelve or thirteen, and one teacher, before turning the weapon on themselves. There were two other victims in another home. There were twenty five others who were injured. There is one right now fighting for her life. This sort of thing just doesn't happen in Canada. The last time that there was a school shooting was in 1989 at Ecole Polytechnique, a women's college where 14 women were murdered. School is to be a safe place. When those sets of parents who sent their son or daughter off to school, they had no idea that they would not be returning. The first responders, especially the local detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, were there in two minutes and bravely entered, not knowing what was inside. They knew that there was an active shooting and they put their lives on the line and saved a lot of lives. Messages of condolences have come in from all over the world. Our Prime Minister Mark Carney in a statement said that he was inundated with condolences from leaders of countries around the world, including King Charles. This is going to be a situation that this small town will never be able to put in the rearview mirror. That's an understatement. It certainly has shaken the residents of that town, the province of British Columbia and the entire country. It certainly puts into sharper focus how important it is to wrap our arms around those that mean the most to us and see how important it is to share our love for them, our friendship with them, because nothing's guaranteed. It's interesting. In season number three, episode 32, there is an episode that's entitled But Nobody Died. How ironic, but nobody died. And it's all about you know attitude when you're in a curling game. I know it doesn't have any relevance really to what's happened here, but people did die. And sometimes, well, whatever our activity happens to be, it doesn't have to be sports, it can be any hobby, whatever. Sometimes the things that we think are so important to us now, when we see and hear what has happened in Tumblr Ridge, BC, there's nothing more important than the lives of those who we surround ourselves with, whether it be family, friends, or whoever, and how valuable their love towards us is and ours to them. There's just nothing more important than that. So we wish those residents of Tumblr Ridge, not just those parents, but everyone in the community, that they need to know that there is support out there. They're not alone in their grief, which for the parents for sure will last the rest of their lives. But they are not alone, and there is certainly something in that for them. I especially empathize with those who had to knock on doors to deliver the news that their son or daughter did not survive the shooting. I say that because I had to do that one time. I won't go into the details. Suffice to say that I had to look parents in the eye who pretty much knew the situation. But there was no one else around at the hospital when they arrived. And I knew they wanted the truth, and I had to deliver that. That is something you don't want to ever have to do. And I very much respect those who are in that situation where they have to deliver that kind of news. It's something that you don't ever want to have to do. Normally at this time, at the end of an episode, I will say, stay safe, my friends, and remember what Charlie Brown said about don't dwell on things that make you sad because there's so many things that can make you happy. Well, today it's kind of tough to think about what makes you happy, but we have to do that. It's always a choice. So wherever you are, stay safe. There will be another episode of the podcast. There will be season five, episode two. And I was really excited about this episode today, and I could not bring myself to hit publish. So, my friends, and you are all my friends. In many cases, I don't know who you are. I've never met you, but the fact that you listen to the podcast uh makes you my friend. And thank you much for very much for doing that. It's it means a lot to me. So parents, grandparents, hug those children. Until next time.