Like many of you, I have been struggling to find the right words after the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge. When something this devastating happens in a small community, the impact is felt by everyone. Relationships are layered, histories are shared, and people are connected in ways that those of us in larger centres sometimes forget. The grief does not belong to one family or one organization. It belongs to an entire community, and in many ways, to all of us.

On behalf of ASPECT, I want to acknowledge our member, Outlines for Life Society, and the broader network of people in the region who are supporting one another through an unthinkable time. Community-based organizations are often the quiet anchors in moments like these, showing up, holding space, and helping people take the next step forward when the path feels impossible to see.

We mourn for the families whose lives have been shattered, for the children and educators lost, and for a community that may never be quite the same. Please know that your colleagues across the province are thinking of you and standing alongside you in sorrow.

There are no perfect words for moments like this. But we can surround communities with care, bear witness to their loss, and remind one another, especially in the hardest times, that no one stands alone.

Janet Morris-Reade, CEO
ASPET BC

Photo credit: Tumbler Ridge Economic Development Corp