It was a somber mood inside DP Todd Secondary School after a 17-year-old student is presumed drowned after a boat capsized north of Wells on Saturday.
Quesnel RCMP responded to the suspected drowning in Stony Lake just after 3pm where it was reported there were four people on the boat, but only three were able to swim to shore. Quesnel Search and Rescue were also called in to assist.
School District 57 Superintendent, Jameel Aziz told MyPGNow.com with the high school’s grad ceremony taking place on Friday at CN Centre, it will be important to find a balance during the event.
“I know that there are conversations going on right now among school administration, friends of the student and the family of the student to make sure we can determine the path forward and ultimately, commencement is a School District 57 event and there are hundreds of other students where its a special day for them and their family.”
In addition, SD57’s Board of Education postponed tonight’s meeting to a later date.
The school board’s Critical Event Response Team is at DP Todd providing emotional support to students.
“At DP Todd they set up two rooms yesterday (Monday), where students could go to connect with councillors and be able to express themselves and their grief and manage the challenges they would be having. Staff was briefed in the morning and the rest of the day as well.”
“It is very challenging. I have worked in school districts in the province where this kind of tragedy has occurred during grad season and its certainly has an impact not only on the school community but the greater community as well.” said Aziz.
A Go Fund Me has been started for the impacted family and can be found here.
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