Alberta Schools: Safety Audits Ordered After B.C. Shooting

CALGARY, AB — Alberta's school boards are moving to audit every lock, intercom, and emergency protocol after last week's Tumbler Ridge Secondary School shooting in British Columbia left eight dead—including students, an educator, and the shooter.

The February 10 tragedy triggered immediate calls from Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides for all districts to assess security infrastructure. The directive covers door locks, intercom systems, and safety equipment, with a parallel provincial audit of security standards now underway.

The Push for Safer Halls

This isn't Alberta's first swing at school safety. The province expanded the Alberta Security Infrastructure Program (ASIP) in December 2023, offering up to $20,000 in temporary grants to eligible Jewish and Islamic faith-based schools amid a spike in hate incidents. That program carried a $5 million budget in 2023, up $3 million from its 2021 launch.

Meanwhile, the 2025-26 budget commits $143 million to build 476 "complexity teams" in K-6 schools—each comprising one teacher and two educational assistants—to manage disruptive behaviour and support diverse student needs. Premier Danielle Smith and Minister Nicolaides also pledged $400 million to a dedicated class size and complexity cabinet committee established last October.

The Funding Gap

Critics argue the investments fall short. The Alberta Teachers' Association pegged the 2025 public school budget at $9.9 billion—nearly $1 billion below what would match the Canadian average per student. Alberta ranks last among provinces at $11,601 per student (2020/21), trailing the national average of $13,332.

Edmonton social services organization IslamicFamily, which partners with school boards on cultural sensitivity and equity work, is among the voices calling for sustained investment in safety and inclusion.

What Happens Next

School boards now have a short runway to complete audits and report findings to the province. The Education Act already mandates welcoming, caring, respectful, and safe learning environments—but the Tumbler Ridge shooting has made those words feel less like policy and more like an urgent to-do list.

For students walking into class, the question is simple: Will the audits translate into tangible change before the next crisis hits?