Shannda Aviugana-Durand was a devoted wife, a proud and loving mother of two children, and a deeply valued educational assistant in her community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. At 39 years old, she was known for the warmth, patience, and compassion she brought to her work at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and to every part of her life. Friends and family remembered her as the kind of person who consistently showed up for others, offered comfort without hesitation, and gave her love freely.
A close friend described her as a "best friend," a "sister," and a "hero." Her husband, Mark Stacey, shared that she loved her students deeply. At a vigil, the Prime Minister relayed her husband's words, recalling how Shannda would sneak gum and candy to the children, which was against school rules, and made sure every child felt special on their birthday.
The afternoon of Tuesday, February 10, 2026, shattered the peace of the small mountain town. At approximately 2:20 p.m., a former student, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, entered Tumbler Ridge Secondary School armed with a long gun and a modified rifle and began shooting. Earlier that day, the shooter had killed her own mother and 11-year-old half-brother at their home. When the attack began at the school, an alarm sounded, and students and staff went into lockdown, barricading doors with tables.
Shannda Aviugana-Durand was in the school library with her students when the shooter arrived. According to a subsequent lawsuit filed by her husband, Shannda was shot and killed in front of the students she was dedicated to protecting. The lawsuit states she was killed "in the process of trying to stop the shooter from harming others." In a devastating turn of events, her own daughter was present in the library and witnessed her mother's murder. Shannda was one of six people killed at the school that day, along with five students aged 12 and 13. Another 27 people were injured before the shooter took her own life as police arrived.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) led the investigation into one of Canada's deadliest school shootings. They identified the perpetrator and began to piece together the months leading up to the attack. The investigation uncovered extensive online communication between the shooter and an individual in the United States. In October 2026, police in Washington state arrested James Cody Bryant, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen, for allegedly aiding Van Rootselaar in planning the massacre. Investigators found that the pair had traded thousands of messages on the platform Discord, discussing weapons, the logistics of a mass shooting, and how to maximize the carnage. Bryant was charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country and later pleaded not guilty.
In the wake of the tragedy, the community of Tumbler Ridge came together to grieve the profound loss. The BC General Employees' Union, of which Shannda was a member, issued a statement extending its deepest condolences to her family, friends, and coworkers. A GoFundMe campaign was started by a friend on behalf of Shannda's husband to help the family with funeral costs and living expenses as they faced the "unthinkable" reality of moving forward without the heart of their family. The fundraiser quickly gathered significant support, showing how many lives Shannda had touched.
Vigils were held to honor Shannda and the other victims, bringing together heartbroken family members, students, and residents. Relatives expressed their grief on social media, with an aunt writing that her heart was broken over the loss of her niece. In April 2026, Shannda's husband was among several family members of victims who filed wrongful death lawsuits against the tech firm OpenAI, alleging the company played a role in the shooter's radicalization. As of October 2026, the criminal case against the alleged co-conspirator was proceeding through the justice system, while a community continued to mourn a woman remembered for her heroism and boundless love for her family and students.
