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Canadian Community Reels as Anti-Trans Rhetoric Follows Mass Shooting Tragedy
A small British Columbia town is grieving after one of Canada’s worst mass shootings claimed multiple lives at a local secondary school and nearby residence on Tuesday. In Tumbler Ridge, a rural community of approximately 2,400 people, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed eight people and injured at least 25 others before taking her own life.
The BC RCMP identified Van Rootselaar as the shooter during a Wednesday press conference, with Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald confirming she was a trans woman. “We understand that the community has questions, and want to understand the motive behind this tragic incident,” McDonald said.
The tragedy marks the third-deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community and across the nation.
However, even before official confirmation of the shooter’s identity, far-right media outlets, online commentators, and at least one elected official had already begun targeting the transgender community, using the incident to call for restrictions on gender-affirming care and transgender rights.
Hours after the shooting, Independent MLA Tara Armstrong, who left the provincial Conservative party earlier this year, posted on social media platform X claiming the shooter was transgender. Armstrong went further, connecting being transgender to mental illness and suggesting gender-affirming care contributes to what she called an “epidemic of violence.”
While Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre’s condolence message made no direct reference to transgender people, his post quickly accumulated replies filled with anti-trans rhetoric and calls for restrictions on transgender rights.
The narrative spread beyond Canada’s borders, with American right-wing influencers such as Benny Johnson and Andy Ngo amplifying the message to millions of followers. Ngo suggested Canadian officials were hiding the shooter’s transgender identity, despite limited confirmed information available at the time.
This pattern of rushing to link violence to transgender identity has become increasingly common in North American media and politics. An analysis by Wired identified at least 12 violent events between 2022 and 2025 that were falsely blamed on transgender people by prominent right-wing figures in the United States.
Notable examples include U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar incorrectly claiming that the 2022 Uvalde school shooting was perpetrated by a “transsexual leftist illegal alien,” and similar false narratives following the 2024 Lakewood Church shooting in Texas.
The misinformation problem became so pervasive that even mainstream outlets like the Wall Street Journal published unverified claims following the assassination of American commentator Charlie Kirk last year—reports later debunked when the shooter was identified as a cisgender man.
This pattern reflects broader statistics on mass shootings. Research from The Violence Project shows that over 98 percent of mass shootings in the United States are committed by cisgender men.
Public health experts worry that the immediate calls for restrictions on transgender rights following the Tumbler Ridge tragedy signals concerning trends in Canadian discourse. While Canada has largely been shielded from the most extreme anti-transgender rhetoric due to the rarity of mass shootings, this incident demonstrates that similar narratives have gained traction within Canadian political and online spheres.
Armstrong’s post specifically promotes the dangerous narrative of transgender identity as a mental illness, a harmful framework that could potentially impact government policy regarding gender-affirming care, inclusive education, and conversion therapy bans.
As Tumbler Ridge mourns its devastating loss, community leaders and mental health professionals are emphasizing the importance of focusing on supporting those affected by the tragedy rather than using the event to target vulnerable groups. They caution that premature speculation and misinformation not only harms transgender people but also diverts attention from properly supporting a community in crisis.
The investigation into the shooter’s motives continues as authorities work to provide answers to a grieving community seeking understanding amid this senseless act of violence.
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14 Comments
This is a devastating event that deserves our full attention and respect for the victims, not political opportunism. I hope the community can find solace and healing in the days ahead.
While the details are still unfolding, it’s clear that this is a traumatic and tragic event for the people of Tumbler Ridge. My sincere condolences to all those affected.
Well said. We should focus on providing care and support to the community, not engaging in harmful speculation or rhetoric.
While the details are still emerging, it’s important to rely on official sources and avoid speculation. Sensationalizing or misrepresenting the facts could cause further harm to this grieving community.
Well said. We should let the authorities investigate thoroughly and resist the urge to jump to conclusions or spread unverified claims, no matter our personal beliefs.
Tragic news out of Tumbler Ridge. I hope the community can find the support and resources they need to heal during this difficult time.
Yes, the focus should be on providing aid and comfort, not exploiting this tragedy for ideological purposes.
While the details around the shooter’s identity are still unconfirmed, it’s crucial that we avoid fueling harmful narratives or biases. This is a time for unity, not division.
This is a tragic event that should not be politicized. My heart goes out to the Tumbler Ridge community as they mourn this terrible loss of life.
Agreed. Spreading misinformation and targeting the transgender community is despicable and counterproductive. We should focus on supporting the victims and their families.
My heart goes out to the Tumbler Ridge community during this unimaginably difficult time. I hope they can find the resources and support they need to begin the healing process.
This is a profoundly sad event that deserves our compassion, not political point-scoring. My condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the victims.
My heart breaks for the victims and their families. No community should have to endure such a senseless act of violence.
Agreed. We must resist the urge to politicize this tragedy and instead come together to support one another during this difficult time.