Montreal Tragedy

Wow. Words cannot describe the shock of what is going on in Montreal right now. I am saddened.

Saddened because people are hurt, seriously or critically injured, and at least one victim dead.

Saddened because someone felt so alone, distraught, depressed, angry, that he would take his frustration out on innocent people.

Saddened because those students and teachers didn't need to go through this and will live with this trauma for the rest of their lives.

Saddened for the families of the young casualities who will have to come to grips with this.

Saddened because we haven't learned much from December 6, 1989.

Saddened because our Canadian coverage of this has turned in to much more sensationalized American style than ever before. ( I really do NOT think we needed to interview Columbine survivors to get their "take" on what went down - shame on you CBC)

Saddened because I wonder if we do enough?

Every year since Columbine and the Taber tragedies we practice secure classroom drills. We practice lockdowns, building evacuations, and bomb scares. Can we ever fully protect the kids that are placed in our charge day after day?

And do we know that if something like that were to arise that we would do what we should? Looking at some of that footage, I wonder. People walked by the gunman and the police without ever even realizing what was going on. The tragedy could be so much worse.

I guess we have learned a little from 17 years ago. They say the police knew exactly what to do and how to "take down" the gunman. The teachers knew to collect students into classrooms and barracade the doors. Some student did know to run for cover and get out of the way.

Many of the victims will survive. There are some that may not, but it really could have been much worse.

What a terribly sad day...