Outside the school, parents gathered at a nearby community centre as they anxiously waited to be reunited with their children. Krauss, the pastor, said she went over to support a close friend whose son was at the school.

Krauss said her friend later learned that their child was among those who were killed.

“It was devastating, I don’t know what else to say,” she said through tears. “They are gutted. To lose a child is the worst thing in the world.”

Krauss added that everyone in the town has been touched by the shooting in some way. “Everybody knows somebody,” she said. “Even for those who haven’t lost a loved one, they are still affected.”

Tumbler Ridge’s history is rooted in mining, with the industry still employing many of the town’s residents. It is also known for its picturesque scenery, with tourists drawn to its UNESCO-recognised geopark – one of only five in Canada.

That natural beauty is how Bob Zimmer, the federal Conservative member of parliament representing the region, hopes Tumbler Ridge will be remembered, rather than for the tragedy that struck it this week.

“They want to be defined as a beautiful community with beautiful people,” Zimmer told the BBC. “But for now, there’s a dark cloud. It’s just going to take some time to mourn.”

Police said they had responded to multiple mental health calls involving Van Rootselaar over the years and had seized firearms from the suspect’s home before, though they were later returned after a successful petition by the owner of those guns.

Authorities did not say who had owned the previously seized guns, or how the suspect procured the weapons used in the shooting. They said Van Rootselaar had a gun licence which had expired in 2024.

Zimmer acknowledged there will be difficult conversations in the aftermath of the shooting, including on whether there is an “obvious need for more substantial mental health support”.

But for now he said the community are focused on grieving.

“We’re just here to give some hugs and tell (residents) that they are appreciated, and that there’s hope,” Zimmer said.

“But I think there are some serious questions that need to be answered after this.”