Love, caring needed now

Tumbler Ridge is a tragedy that will never be forgotten in Canada.

As more information about the victims trickles out, especially how young they were, it is hard to escape the heaviness that this situation brings.

So, I want to thank Canada for its unity. Almost everyone (except Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldsteam MLA Tara Armstrong, but it’s not a surprise considering her lack of tact and outlandish beliefs) has put their politics aside to come together for that community. Federally and provincially there is a strong sense of unity between party lines and in the community as we rally for (those in Tumbler Ridge).

We need this to continue. The love, compassion and care we are giving to Tumbler Ridge needs to be universal. There is too much division, too much hate and not enough empathy in our society. We shouldn’t need a tragedy such as this to remind us that we all are working towards a common goal—to be happy, healthy and safe.

If you see comments about the gender identity of the shooter or you see people using that to further their agenda, whether political or otherwise, I encourage you to call them out.

The time to analyze, to point fingers and even review how this won’t happen again, isn’t now. Right now, it’s about healing and cloaking the victims families with love. Anything else is unacceptable.

Thank you Canada for being better. Thank you for being a society where instances of unspeakable tragedy such as this are few and far between. Thank you to our leaders on both sides of the political spectrum for their action, support and humanity during this time.

Watching the administration south of us (in the U.S.) display the opposite of those things, I have hope and pride knowing that we’re different. We’re better.

Jaki Christie