It is with profound sorrow that we mourn the loss of four of our students and a beloved teacher at Walkerton District Community School. This tragedy has deeply affected our school community, leaving us heartbroken and searching for ways to heal.
The grief felt by our students and staff is immeasurable. Our school, which was filled with laughter and energy only a week ago, now carries a deep sense of loss and despair. Teachers and other staff, who have always been pillars of strength and support, are now navigating their own sorrow while continuing to care for their students. They have been doing an exceptional job supporting students and one another as they work through their own grief and sadness.
In response to this devastating event, our crisis response team has been at the school supporting students, staff, and families. We are offering grief counselling services and creating spaces for our school community to come together in remembrance and support.
We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of love and support that we have received over the past week from our local communities in Bruce and Grey counties, across Ontario, and beyond. The kindness and solidarity shown by individuals, families, organizations, and communities have been a tremendous source of comfort and stability during this incredibly difficult time. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to our school community for your care, kindness, and generosity. We truly feel supported.
As we navigate this challenging journey, we draw strength from one another and from the enduring spirit of our Riverhawk school community. Together, we will find a path forward, honouring the memories of those we have lost while supporting each other through the days, weeks, and months ahead. We are “Riverhawks Strong”.
Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the four students and teacher lost in this heartbreaking tragedy.
We will continue to speak their names, tell their stories, and carry their light forward.
Let our care for one another be the legacy we build from this loss.
Roselyn Clancy
Principal
