Candles are placed on the ground as community members gather for a vigil honouring those who lost their lives in a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on February 13, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS
A small community in northern British Columbia has received support through a national hockey program, just weeks after a tragic event that shook the town.
Community Earns National Recognition
Tumbler Ridge has been named one of the winners in the 2026 Kraft Hockeyville program. The announcement comes shortly after a mass shooting in the town that left eight people dead and many others injured.
The annual program recognizes communities across Canada that show strong support for hockey. This year, 13 towns and regions earned recognition, including places in Alberta, Yukon, Ontario, and Quebec.
Each winning community will receive $50,000 to improve its local arena. These towns will now move forward in the competition, with a chance to win larger prizes.
More Opportunities Ahead
The competition will continue as the selected communities compete for the top prize. The runner-up will receive $100,000, while the winner will take home $250,000 and host a National Hockey League pre-season game.
Organizers will announce the finalists soon, and the public will help decide the winner through an online vote.
For Tumbler Ridge, the funding offers more than just upgrades. It brings a sense of hope and unity during a difficult time.
A Community Still Healing
The recognition comes as the town continues to recover from the recent violence. Families and residents still cope with loss and injury.
Among those affected is young hockey player Maya Gebala, who played in the community before she suffered serious injuries in the shooting. She remains in hospital with a gunshot wound to the head.
Her mother, Cia Edmonds, shared a deeply personal message after attending a professional hockey game in Vancouver with her family.
A Bittersweet Moment
The family received an invitation to attend the game and meet players. While they appreciated the experience, the moment carried a mix of emotions.
Edmonds described the outing as “a bittersweet experience” and said her family still felt the weight of Maya’s absence.
“The entire time the thought of ‘Maya would have loved this’ and the shame of it all would subtly drift in, like a bad smell,” Edmonds wrote.
She recalled a powerful moment during the game when a familiar song played.
“So, (then) period three, they played ‘Living on a prayer,” the song Maya practised every day all last summer relentlessly, so she could sing on stage at the town festival," she said. “It played loud, everyone sang along. and I felt like she was there for a moment.”
Strength Through Hockey
Hockey continues to play an important role in the lives of many in Tumbler Ridge. The Hockeyville recognition highlights how the sport brings people together, even in times of hardship.
The funding will help improve the town’s arena, giving residents a place to gather, support one another, and begin to heal.
As the competition moves forward, the community now looks ahead with quiet determination, holding on to both grief and hope.
