B.C. Lieutenant-Governor Wendy Cocchia at the legislative assembly as the province declares a day of mourning for the victims of a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge.CHAD HIPOLITO/The Canadian Press
British Columbia‘s Speech from the Throne on Thursday was stripped of the usual pomp and ceremony: There was no red carpet, no brass bands, no inspection of the guard of honour, no booming echo of cannon fire across the Victoria harbour.
In the wake of this week’s deadly mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, MLAs gathered to open the latest legislative session with sombre solidarity rather than partisan bickering.
Lieutenant-Governor Wendy Cocchia, dressed in black, entered the legislature buildings through a side door. Inside the chambers, she delivered a short and heartfelt message aimed at the community.
“Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and a tight-knit community suffering unimaginable pain. We hold them in our prayers and stand with them in their grief,” her speech began.
“Today, the people of Tumbler Ridge are wrapped in the care and compassion of an entire province and a country that mourns alongside them.”
Deadly attack shatters quiet community of Tumbler Ridge
In place of a speech that usually touts the government’s achievements and forecasts its ambitions for the year ahead, Ms. Cocchia instead thanked first responders, teachers and the students of Tumbler Ridge Secondary school for their courage and swift actions that helped limit the death toll from Tuesday’s shootings.
As the representative for the Crown, she passed along the condolences from King Charles.
And she closed: “As a mother, it’s impossible to comprehend the pain and grief you’re experiencing. Nobody thinks when they see their child or loved one off for the day they won’t be returning. My heart aches for the families, students and everyone.”
After her speech, the legislature was silent as the Lieutenant-Governor made her way out of the chambers, offering hugs instead of handshakes to many of the MLAs who stood for her departure.
The start of the spring session required a formal opening, but on this day, legislators set their politics aside.
Teenager identified as Tumbler Ridge school shooter had struggled with mental health
Outside the legislature, MLAs from all parties gathered to stand behind Premier David Eby as he spoke to the media. The MLAs wore black ribbons of mourning on their lapels.
“It’s not often that the legislature is fully united, but clearly with all Canadians, we’re standing with those families, those loved ones who are suffering right now, and with little Maya, who’s in the hospital, and with her family,” he said. He was referring to 12-year-old Maya Gebala, who was airlifted to Vancouver Children’s Hospital in serious condition from bullet wounds.
“We couldn’t go on with business as normal, because this is not a normal day for British Columbia or for Canada.”
Mr. Eby came to the legislature on Thursday directly from a visit to Tumbler Ridge, where he had met with members of the northeastern B.C. community and first responders and attended a vigil. He said the feelings in the community are raw, and returning to the routines of the legislature “felt pretty empty.”
During his visit, he said he heard stories of students protecting other students during the shootings, and of teachers pulling the injured out of the line of fire to administer CPR. But he said the details are for those in Tumbler Ridge to share when they can.
“They are deeply inspiring stories about the nature of humanity ... but they are not my stories to share.”
In another display of parliamentary unity, Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit Tumbler Ridge on Friday alongside Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, interim NDP leader Don Davies and Green Leader Elizabeth May.
Next week, the B.C. Legislature will begin to return to its usual routine as the government delivers its budget. Mr. Eby said some of the themes that would have been delivered in the Throne Speech will be announced then.
“I’ll ensure that I engage with British Columbians about about where we’re going and what we’re going to do in the way that the Throne Speech was meant to, but for right now, where we’re going, what we’re meant to do is to support those families.”