Metro Vancouver students are on a much-needed spring break this week, following a recent series of reported threats against schools.
Last week, two separate threats prompted temporary lockdowns at Burnaby North Secondary School. The Burnaby RCMP said both instances were deemed not credible.
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Last month, Coquitlam’s Porter Street Elementary was put on hold-and-secure measures due to reported threats three times over the course of three days. The Vanier Centre and GOAL Secondary School were also affected.
The threats come at a time of heightened stress for families after a shooter opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in February, killing eight victims.
Dr. Tyler Black, a child psychiatrist from the University of British Columbia, says children already have a greater sense of risk, and, when a lockdown happens, they need help putting the situation into context.
“The preparation of teachers and staff is what is most important,” said Black.
“There is so much time spent on preparing kids on what to do, but kids are kids. What we need, really, are well-prepared staff.”
Black says adults often carry expectations for how school incidents impact kids, but stresses that each experience varies. He says parents and guardians can look out for distractibility or difficulties with sleeping or routines as indications of high stress or anxiety.
“The things I’m always asking parents to check in on is just, ‘How are you feeling?’ ‘What are you doing in terms of your normal routines?’ ‘Is there anything getting in your way?’ ‘Is there anything that is worrying you?’”
Black says adults may project their own stress on kids, wrongly thinking they understand the greater context.
He believes schools need more resources, as school counsellors become more vital.
“The school’s counsellor office really has become almost a short-term mental health clinic, or even sometimes a long-term one. And so I certainly think that Metro [Vancouver] schools need more mental health support, but they are doing absolutely the very best they can.”
Black says it’s important that parents reassure kids that they will be safe at school and need to listen to their teachers.
Cpl. Mike Kalanj says his office is in touch with Mounties in Coquitlam to determine if there is a connection between the threats made in both cities.
Kalanj says investigators are hearing concerns from the community and doing their best to look into the threats.
“Anytime we get one of these calls, whether we think it’s fake, real, or in-between, we are treating every single one of them like it’s a real thing,” said Kalanj.
When classes resume, he says residents may see more police in and around Burnaby schools.
“You’ll likely see some of our front-line members, maybe writing their reports closer to some of the schools.”
In a statement, the Coquitlam RCMP said its investigation remains ongoing.
—With files from Emma Crawford
