The remote mountain town of Tumbler Ridge in British Columbia, home to just 2,400 residents, remains in deep mourning following one of Canada’s most devastating school shootings on February 10, 2026. An 18-year-old suspect carried out a horrific attack, first killing family members at home before heading to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she opened fire, claiming multiple young lives before taking her own. Authorities confirm eight people died in total (excluding the perpetrator in some counts), with more than 25 injured, marking a rare and unimaginable tragedy in a country known for strict gun control.

Among the victims was 12-year-old Kylie May Smith, the youngest confirmed fatality at the school and a girl whose gentle spirit touched everyone who knew her. Described by her family as the “light of our family,” Kylie was a talented young artist with big dreams of attending art school in Toronto. She loved drawing, anime, figure skating (which she started at a remarkably young age), spending time with friends, and above all, her loved ones. Her mother, Desirae Pisarski, shared the shattering pain of losing her daughter, calling her a kind, loving girl with the biggest heart who “couldn’t hurt a fly” and lit up every room she entered.

Kylie’s older brother was also at school that fateful day, and the guilt he carries—wishing he could have protected his little sister—has broken hearts anew within the family. Her father spoke of the agonizing hours waiting for news, only to learn the unbearable truth indirectly, amplifying the family’s grief in an already chaotic scene. Close friends, including fellow 12-year-old victim Ticaria Lampert, shared an unbreakable bond with Kylie; tributes describe them as “besties forever,” now tragically reunited too soon.

The small, tight-knit community has rallied with vigils, candles, teddy bears, and framed photos placed outside the school and community center. Families have pleaded for focus to remain on the victims’ beautiful lives and legacies rather than the details of the tragedy itself. GoFundMe pages have surged to support grieving relatives, covering expenses and allowing loved ones to stay by hospital bedsides where survivors fight on.

In the wake of this rare event—Canada’s strict laws make such incidents exceptionally uncommon—the nation grapples with shock and sorrow. Messages of support pour in from across the country and beyond, with many urging people to hold their children closer and offer prayers for healing. Kylie May Smith’s story, in particular, stands as a poignant symbol of lost innocence: a bright, creative girl on the verge of adolescence, full of joy and promise, whose light was extinguished far too early.

As Tumbler Ridge begins the long road to recovery, the world continues to send love and strength to Kylie’s family, her classmates, and everyone forever changed by February 10. May they find comfort in the outpouring of compassion and in remembering the beautiful soul she was.