Teachers talk safety at Calgary convention after Tumbler Ridge shooting

The annual Calgary City Teachers’ Convention is typically a lively gathering focused on professional development, collaboration, and new ideas for the classroom.

But this year, the atmosphere at the Telus Convention Centre was subdued as educators grappled with the aftermath of Tuesday’s fatal shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

Many teachers attending the two‑day event said they are still processing the loss of a fellow educator. Some described feeling grief, shock, and a renewed sense of vulnerability.

“It’s hard to see something like this happen to a colleague,” said Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. “But we need to be careful about the measures put in place.”

“You’ll see sometimes in the States there are metal detectors. There were conversations for a while about maybe teachers should be armed. This is the pendulum swinging too far in one direction. What we need to do is ensure that we have supports in school.”

Nearly 30 teachers approached for comment said the tragedy remains too raw to discuss publicly. Still, a few shared their perspectives on the broader conversation around school safety.

“If people aren’t feeling safe, then that needs to be addressed,” said teacher Nick Moskaluk. “We can’t enter any kind of learning, with ourselves, with our students, with our colleagues, if we don’t feel safe.”

Another teacher, Ellie Westbury, said her school has strong safety protocols in place, but believes the solutions extend beyond physical security.

“Our school is secure. We have practice lockdowns. We have fire drills,” she said. “I think emphasis should be in the community, mental‑health support.”

Educators at the convention emphasized that meaningful change will require listening to teachers, expanding mental‑health resources, and increasing funding for schools.

The province responded Thursday, saying Alberta schools remain safe but acknowledging that the Tumbler Ridge shooting has prompted a closer look at existing measures.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said he will ask school boards to conduct audits of their security systems.

“I will be asking school boards to undertake an audit of their security measures to make sure that all doors are locking properly as they should, intercoms are working as they should, safety equipment is where it needs to be and updated,” Nicolaides said. “At the same time, I’ll also be conducting an audit of provincial standards with respect to security measures.”

Premier Danielle Smith added that the review will determine whether Alberta’s minimum security standards for schools are adequate or need to be strengthened.