Tumbler Ridge Victims’ Fathers Meet: Support & Remembrance

Tumbler Ridge Fathers Find Solace in Shared Grief After School Shooting

February 21, 2026 – In the wake of the tragic mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on February 10, 2026, a small act of human connection has offered a glimmer of hope amidst profound grief. Abel Mwansa, the father of 12-year-old Abel Mwansa Jr., who was killed in the shooting, met with David Gebala, the father of Maya Gebala, who remains hospitalized fighting for her life after being shot in the head during the attack.

The meeting, which took place in Vancouver on Thursday, February 20, 2026, at BC Children’s Hospital, provided an opportunity for the two fathers to offer each other support and encouragement. Mwansa shared his experience navigating the immediate aftermath of loss, while Gebala spoke of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his daughter’s condition.

“We encouraged one another yesterday,” Mwansa said in a video posted to Facebook on Friday, February 21, 2026. Mwansa is preparing to repatriate his son’s remains to Zambia, the Mwansa family’s home country, and has secured the necessary documentation. He plans to finalize travel arrangements with an airline before setting a funeral date in Zambia.

Maya Gebala’s condition has been described as defying medical expectations. A family update posted on Wednesday through a GoFundMe page stated, “We were told we only had hours and yet here you are, still fighting, still with us.” Gebala is reportedly moving and breathing on her own, according to her father’s update.

The shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School claimed the lives of nine people, including six children. The small town of approximately 2,400 residents is grappling with immense grief and a shattered sense of security. The tragedy is one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history.

The community has rallied around the affected families, with residents offering food, support, and assistance. Mwansa expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support from the people of Tumbler Ridge, noting that people have been “stopping by day and night bringing whatever they could bring.”

Among the other victims identified were 12-year-old Zoey Benoit, described as “the strongest little girl you could meet,” and 12-year-old Kylie Smith, remembered as “the light” of her family and a budding artist. The suspect, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the school. Police have stated that Van Rootselaar began transitioning to being female approximately six years ago.

As the community mourns, support continues to pour in from across Canada, including a planned visit from Prime Minister Mark Carney. Condolence books have been established both online and in person to honor the victims and provide a space for collective grieving. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the families affected by the tragedy.

The incident has left a lasting mark on Tumbler Ridge, a town previously known for its peaceful and insulated existence. As one local pastor put it, “We’ve been insulated…A newcomer comes to town and they’re locking up, and everyone laughs, because why are you doing that? Nothing happens here.” That sense of security has now been irrevocably altered.