UPDATE: Weapons threat reported at West Kelowna high school a hoax
WEST KELOWNA – A threat to bring a weapon to Mount Boucherie Secondary School in West Kelowna made by a student lead RCMP to investigate, but there was nothing to it, says superintendent of schools Hugh Gloster.
“It was basically a hoax. A youth in the community sent a message (using social media) through to a couple of other students he knew. It included potential threats to kids in the school, he was threatening to do something bad so the RCMP got involved.”
Gloster says police talked with student last night.
“They have closed the file in terms of any real threat. The RCMP liaison officer is with the youth right now doing a follow-up.”
The superintendent says rumours of a school evacuation were also untrue and based on media reports of the school’s football team loading into buses in front of the school.
“I guess they saw about a hundred kids and buses and they saw the RCMP car in parking lot. They don’t realize we have a liaison officer in the school who is parked there most days.”
Gloster says a letter explaining the situation will be sent to the parents of the 1,500 kids who attend the West Kelowna school.
The superintendent says the district’s threat assessment protocol was invoked.
“But I can’t remember the last time we’ve had to deal wtih something quite the same as this. Unfortunately, kids suggesting self-harm happens much more frequently.”
Kelowna RCMP confirmed they are investigating and have interviewed a male student.
"If need be, an appropriate charge will be laid. There is no danger to the school," Cpl. Joe Duncan says.
To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.U
— This story was updated at 11:52 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 19 with new information from the school board and RCMP.
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I got the same letter as Marshall, and replied to its sender that it was so vague, that I had to stop work, search out the information on social media, contact others, etc. to find out what threat or non-threat it was even talking about.It was so vague it did not inform.Mr. Gloster provided more information through quotes on 3 or 4 media outlets than in any information provided to parents.I find that patronizing to be told there was a potential threat, we have your child, we won’t tell you what it was about, but don’t worry, social media just seems to run wild with information.The interesting thing is, the school district seemed to be providing more information to the various media outlets than it provided to the parents.Why didn’t we get the email first thing in the morning either letting us know there was a yet-to-be-determined risk, or what the risk was that was reviewed and dismissed and why?
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