Chronology of Major School Shootings in Canada

Published on: February 11, 2026

Chronology of Major School Shootings in Canada

While mass casualty events in Canadian schools are statistically infrequent, several incidents have profoundly impacted the nation’s legislation and approach to campus security.

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Table of Contents

Primary Incidents and Impact

Date	Institution	Location	Outcome & Significance
Feb 10, 2026	Tumbler Ridge Secondary	Tumbler Ridge, BC	10 Fatalities: The most recent and one of the deadliest incidents in decades, involving both school and residential targets.
Jan 22, 2016	La Loche Community School	La Loche, SK	4 Fatalities: A dual-location shooting that highlighted the need for increased mental health resources in remote communities.
Sept 13, 2006	Dawson College	Montreal, QC	2 Fatalities: An attack in a crowded cafeteria that led to a massive overhaul of emergency response protocols in Quebec.
Apr 28, 1999	W.R. Myers High School	Taber, AB	1 Fatality: Occurring shortly after the Columbine tragedy, this event prompted the first major wave of “threat assessment” programs in Canadian schools.
Aug 24, 1992	Concordia University	Montreal, QC	4 Fatalities: A targeted attack by a faculty member against colleagues, sparking debates over workplace violence and tenure disputes.
Dec 6, 1989	École Polytechnique	Montreal, QC	15 Fatalities: The “Montreal Massacre.” A gender-based attack that remains the catalyst for Canada’s modern firearm registration laws.

Contextual Incidents

In addition to the major events listed above, several other shootings have occurred on or near school grounds that influenced local safety policies:

C.W. Jefferys Collegiate (2007): The fatal shooting of Jordan Manners in a Toronto hallway led to the controversial “School Resource Officer” program, placing police directly in high schools.
University of Alberta (2012): A violent armored car robbery on campus resulted in three deaths, emphasizing that university campuses are not immune to external criminal violence.
St. Pius X High School (1975): One of the earlier recorded school shootings in Ottawa, which resulted in three deaths (including the perpetrator).

The Legislative Legacy

In Canada, school shootings are almost always followed by rigorous public debate regarding gun control. The Firearms Act of 1995 was a direct response to the 1989 Montreal Massacre, and recent events continue to push the government toward stricter bans on specific classes of firearms and enhanced background checks.