How Alberta schools respond to increasingly frequent threats

Alberta schools wrapped up a year marked by a sharp rise in threats, prompting districts to refine how they communicate with families during emergencies.

Threats have escalated since the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting in February, which killed eight people including five children and an educator. That incident prompted the Alberta government to spend millions on school security.

While protocols vary across districts and divisions, safety is always the focus when addressing a threat. The challenge is balancing the need for timely, transparent information with privacy rules and ongoing police investigations.

Red Deer Public Schools uses the Hour Zero Emergency Response system, which provides emergency protocols and communication procedures. When Hunting Hills High School went into lockdown on May 13 after a bomb threat, parents received a text message within five minutes saying students were safe and RCMP were on site. Two additional updates were sent that day.

Peace Wapiti Public School Division implemented their Violence Threat Risk Assessment protocol in Sexsmith on June 5 in response to a threat. Parents received an email update at around 1:45 p.m., and the district sent a follow-up letter outlining security measures and additional counselling for students.

Shali Baziuk, president of the Alberta School Boards Association, emphasized that safety is top of mind. "Our priority is the safety and security of students. We take it very seriously, we have robust systems in place," she said. Each district tailors protocols based on local needs, resources, and partnerships with law enforcement.