OTTAWA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- A memorial was held on Friday in Tumbler Ridge, Canada's British Columbia province, to mourn the victims of Tuesday's deadly school shooting.
Governor General Mary Simon, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and leaders of various political parties attended the event, calling for national unity in the face of tragedy.
"I cannot fathom the depths of your sorrow, or the shock, fear and horror you have endured," Simon said in an address. "When the unthinkable becomes real and we are plunged into shadow, we still seek that light."
Carney paid tribute to the resilience of the residents of Tumbler Ridge and praised the heroism of the teachers and first responders who acted swiftly during the shooting.
"Canadians are with you," Carney said. "We will always be with you."
The shooting occurred on Tuesday at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, killing nine people, including the shooter, and injuring more than 25 others. It marks one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canada in recent years.
Flags across Canada have been lowered to half-mast in a national show of mourning, and so has the Chinese embassy in Canada to express condolences. ■
