Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, returned to Tumbler Ridge for a two day visit, April 27 and 28.
The Governor General’s visit reflects “a continued commitment to stand alongside the community beyond the immediate aftermath and support its ongoing healing journey,” according to a press release sent out a couple of days before the visit. “While in Tumbler Ridge, the Governor General will honour, listen to and engage with those impacted by the tragedy, including students, education staff, health care workers, first responders, families and other community members. The visit will also recognize the community’s resilience in the face of adversity.”
Mental health has been a central focus of the Governor General’s mandate, and so Simon spent time with mental health providers to see what is being done to support accessible, community-based mental health services in Tumbler Ridge.
She arrived in town at 3pm on Monday, and met with Mayor Krakowka, as well as council and staff, offering each person a hug in turn.
After a brief visit, Mayor Krakowka joined her as she walked to the Roman Walkway memorial, again, stopping to speak to—and hug—members of the community before placing a paper heart with a message she wrote upon it.
She then visited firefighters and paramedics and RCMP members from the Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd community who responded to the incident.
The next day, she visited students, teachers, support staff, clinicians and safe school liaisons at Tumbler Ridge Secondary, talking with students about reconciliation and resilience. In the afternoon, she spent time with community health care professionals and clinicians from the province’s Child & Youth Mental Health services and from Foundry BC who provide mental health services to youth.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
