“Perceptions,” by Gerry Warner

Op-Ed Commentary

There’s got to be a better way to memorialize the Tumbler Ridge tragedy than pretending it didn’t happen.

In the aftermath of the deadly school shooting that took the lives of so many some officials say – including B.C. Premier David Eby – that the school should be closed permanently and a new facility built in its place to ease the pain.

While understandable in the dreadful circumstances, this is not the way to go. You may say angrily this is the least the families deserve and sad to say you’d be entirely right. But when you really think about it, you’ll realize such a move would be nothing more than a hollow gesture. It won’t bring the kids back, except for the memories, and memories alone would be a cruel response.

Allow me then to make a gut-wrenching suggestion that would provide solace for something that never should have occurred in the first place, but over time may provide some badly needed relief and ensure that the memory of these children will never die and be an inspiration for the bereaved families in the future and those who grieve with them.

Let’s build a monument for these kids.

A monument of marble, brick and stone that says even though you may kill the body you can’t kill people’s urge to learn, whether they’re children or aging adults. They’ve seen it all – the good and the bad – but never lost the urge to learn.

Build the monument somewhere on the school grounds or nearby with the names of all the children on it and let the name of Tumbler Ridge Secondary still stand proudly under the immense Peace River sky despite the horrific deed done beneath it. Otherwise, the shooter wins and nobody wants that, not even I dare to say, the deranged shooter as painful and improbable as that may seem.

And let’s take it a little farther, lots farther. We all know how often we hear the sickening words “active shooter” in this cruel and twisted world we’ve so callously created.

To counter this abhorrent situation, let’s fight back, but do it in a civilized and meaningful way that in the long run may even lessen the carnage around us.

Instead of spending potentially millions to build or rent land for another school a tastefully constructed monument of marble, brick and stone would show the world that Tumbler Ridge citizens don’t run away from adversity no matter how tragic it may be and impossible to understand. The names of the victims would be inscribed on the shrine and some reverential text to go with it and possibly a picture.

Above all, the shrine should make it clear to the world that the horror of the shootings will never be forgotten and venerated forever. Numerous fund raisers could be held all over British Columbia to raise money for the project and once built ceremonies could be held regularly to ensure that the tragedy will always be remembered with the utmost respect. Surely that’s the least we could do!

“There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief.” Aeschylus

– Gerry Warner is a retired journalist and former teacher.

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