“It’s very unusual and tough to hear. It’s not something you ever expect to hear anywhere in Canada, let alone a small community,” Winnipeg native Thomas Hepworth said near Milan’s historic Duomo cathedral.
Hepworth, a scientist who lives in Germany, was in town to watch Canada's men's hockey team, one of the favorites for the gold medal.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police said more than 25 people were wounded, including two who were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
The school, located in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, has 175 students from Grades 7 to 12, according to the provincial government’s website. The town is more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) north of Vancouver, near the border with Alberta.
The Canadian Olympic Committee, in a statement on Wednesday, pledged its support to victims and their families.
“We are heartbroken by the news of the horrific school shooting that occurred in British Columbia. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones, those who are injured, and the entire Tumbler Ridge community. Team Canada stands with everyone affected as they navigate difficult days ahead," the statement said.
School shootings are rare in Canada, which has strict gun control laws.
Edmonton native Gerry Fardoe, also at the Duomo cathedral, said Canadians complete comprehensive training before they can own a gun.
“I have a couple guns. I don’t hunt but I have a remote cabin where we have bear issues. I’ve used it just to scare them off,” said Fardoe, also in Milan to see the Canadian men's team.
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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics