Students Return to La Loche School One Month after Tragic Shooting

Students and staff will return to the school where a tragic shooting took place on January 22^nd in a small northern Saskatchewan community.

The community of La Loche is still grieving the loss of four community members after a 17-year-old went on a shooting rampage at two separate locations. A month later, the students and staff will return to the La Loche Community School and resume their education.

Educators returned to the school on February 22^nd to prepare for the students, and several parent only meetings have taken place prior to the reopening of the school.

Several changes have taken place at the school, including adding volunteers to supervise students on school buses, the main school building will now have three entrances and exits available, and several events will take place to mark the tragedy and help the students deal with their grief and emotions.

The Northern Lights School Division will also hold an open house on February 23^rd for staff, students, community members, and media to attend.

“Safety and security of students and staff is of the utmost importance. An RCMP Resource Officer started today at the Dene High School,” said Ken Ladouceur, director of education in a media release. “A local security company has also been contracted for both the Ducharme Elementary and Dene High Schools, three people will be at each school.”

The shooting shocked the community when two teen brothers, 13-year-old Drayden and 17-year-old Dayne Fontaine were killed in a residence at the 300 Block of Dene Crescent, 21-year-old educational assistant, Marie Javier was killed at the school, and teacher, Adam Woods, 35-years-old, was shot at the school and later died in hospital.

Seven other people were injured at the school and taken to hospital in various conditions. The 17-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released because he is a minor, is facing four counts of first degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.