A community meeting has been called by the Okanagan Skaha and Okanagan-Similkameen school districts to address concerns about a threatening letter found at schools this week.
“While we have been assured there is no immediate threat we did want to come together as a community to share information with you out of an abundance of caution,” said superintendent of schools Wendy Hyer in a press release issued Friday afternoon.
The community meeting will include representatives from RCMP and the school district to ensure information from all agencies are being shared.
The meeting will take place on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre in Salon C.
School District 53 is also hosting a community meeting on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. It will take place at the Okanagan Falls Royal Canadian Legion #227, located at 5009 Veterans Way.
RCMP have not released any information as of Friday if there is any suspects connected to the letter, found on Wednesday, Feb. 18 scattered on the grounds of Princess Margaret Secondary School and Skaha Middle School grounds. It warned of mass shootings at Penticton Secondary and Okanagan Falls Elementary School. Student attendance at most schools on Thursday was down as a result of the threats. Schools were in lockdown protocol on Wednesday and Thursday. A professional development day in Penticton for teachers was previously scheduled for Friday, keeping kids away from the school. Classes were cancelled on Friday at Okanagan Falls Elementary as a result of the threat, so RCMP could concentrate their resources on finding the person(s) responsible.
“We ask each of you, as part of our school community, that if you see anything that doesn’t look or feel right that you act on that immediately by contacting the police,” said Hyer.
