Local resources for people in Tumbler Ridge

• Free drop-in counselling appointments with mental health professionals are available to all residents of Tumbler Ridge at the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre, 220 Front Street. Open daily from 7 am to 11 pm
• Child and Youth Mental Health offers various mental health services to children up to age 19 and their caregivers, including crisis stabilization, assessment, treatment, parent support and guidance. Services are available in-person, virtual, phone or in-home.
  • Visit: Tumbler Ridge Community Centre, open daily from 8am to 10pm
  • Call: 250-784-5174 to schedule an appointment in Tumbler Ridge
  • What to expect from CYMH services in Tumbler Ridge (PDF, 976KB)
• BC Bereavement Helpline offers compassionate listening and support services to help people navigate grief. Call 1-877-779-2223 (toll-free). Open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm (Pacific time)
• HealthLink BC: Call 8-1-1 to connect to free and low-cost counselling and mental health supports near you. Open 24/7
• Crime Victim Assistance Program benefits cover the cost of ongoing counselling sessions for eligible victims, their immediate family members and certain witnesses. For questions or support with your application, email: E_TumblerRidge_VictimServices@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
  Benefits cover:
  • 48 sessions for victims
  • 36 sessions for immediate family members
  • 12 sessions for witnesses

• Tumbler Ridge Health Centre has extended hours for urgent and primary care provided by nurse practitioners with physician support. Open daily from 7 am to 11 pm
• Northern Health virtual and mental health services: Book an online appointment with a doctor, nurse or mental health professional. Call 1-844-645-7811. Open daily from 10 am to 10 pm
• First Nations eHealth and Virtual Health offers virtual appointments with health and mental health care professionals. Call 1-855-344-3800 (toll-free). Open daily from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (Pacific time)

Free transportation options are available to help patients, support persons, or health workers travel between communities.

Northern Health Connections shuttle service

• Once daily shuttle service between Tumbler Ridge Health Centre and Fort St. John Hospital, with stops in Chetwynd and Dawson Creek
• No cost. No pre-booking required. First-come, first served
• See the schedule for pick up and drop off times

TR Cares

• TR Cares is a medical travel service in partnership with Northern Health for patients traveling from Tumbler Ridge for medical reasons to:
  • Dawson Creek – weekly rides on Mondays and Thursdays only
  • Fort St. John – once per month rides
• To book a trip, call or text 250-242-7444

• South Peace Community Resources Society is providing crucial emotional support, referrals and planning services to the community of Tumbler Ridge. Call 250-782-9174 ext. 234
• VictimLinkBC offers 24/7 support and referrals to victims and people impacted by crime and violence. Call or text: 1-800-563-0808
• Crime Victim Assistance Program benefits are available to victims, immediate family members and certain witnesses to help with funeral, medical, counselling and other expenses. For questions or support with your application, email: E_TumblerRidge_VictimServices@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

• Foundry Virtual BC offers free, confidential mental health and wellness supports for youth ages 12 to 24 and their caregivers 7 days a week
• Kids Help Phone offers free, confidential mental health support:
  • Call 1-800-668-6868
  • Text CONNECT to 686868
• erase = expect respect and a safe education provides students, adults and schools with resources to help build safe and caring school communities
• Report It: Students can seek help or submit an anonymous tip if they see or hear something concerning. Report, don’t repost

Children's and teen’s reactions to the shooting are strongly influenced by how parents, relatives, teachers, and other caregivers respond to the event. They often turn to these adults for information, comfort, and help.

Information is available to help parents support their child.

• Parent guidelines for helping youth | National Child Traumatic Stress Network (PDF, 79KB)
• Talking with your kids after traumatic events

For school updates and trauma recovery resources for parents, visit:

• School District 59 – Tumbler Ridge Updates

The Government of Canada offers several financial and compassionate supports to help people and families navigate hardship.

• EI Parents of Victims of Crime Program provides up to 35 weeks of income support ($500 per week) for eligible parents coping with the death of a child due to a criminal act. Benefits can be accessed for up to 3 years after the incident, with multiple family members eligible to apply
• EI Caregiving Benefits provides up to 35 weeks of income support for caring for a critically injured child under 18 or up to 15 weeks for caring for an adult
• EI Sickness Benefits provides up to 26 weeks of income support if you are can’t work for medical reasons, such as injury, illness or any condition that prevents you from working. You may receive 55% of your earnings, up to $729 per week
• Relief from tax penalties. Affected families can request relief from tax penalties and interest if they are unable to meet their tax obligations during this difficult time. Canada Revenue Agency will ensure families are treated with fairness and empathy

Learn more

• Service Canada Tumbler Ridge Handbook (PDF, 981KB)
• To connect with Service Canada outreach support, call 1-877-631-2657

• Employee and Family Assistance Program provides free, confidential counselling and supports to educators and their families through Walmsey.ca
• Safer Schools Together deployed a team of trauma informed specialists to Tumbler Ridge. They are working with the school district to provide schools, educators and students with the resources they need
• Provincial Health Services Authority’s Disaster Psychosocial Support Team is reinforcing local mental health supports in collaboration with the school district

• Northern Health Employee Family Assistance Program provides confidential counselling to health care workers and their families through workhealthlife.com (search Northern Health Authority)
• Care to Speak provides free and confidential peer-based support to health and social workers by phone, text or online chat. Call or text 1-866-802-7337. Available Monday to Friday from 9 am to 9 pm (Pacific time)
• Critical Incident Stress Management is a peer-based program for paramedics who’ve had a stressful incident. They also provide psychologists for follow up counselling. Call 1-855-969-4321
• Canadian Emergency Response Psychosocial Support Network offers mental health guidance and resources in times of crisis or disaster
  • Self-assessment: Check your mental health status
  • Coping with stress, trauma and posttraumatic stress
  • ​​British Columbia directory of supports