Principal praised for going above and beyond during police incident in rural Shuswap community

CANOE – Principal Shawn Weeks says he was just doing his job, but members of the community feel he went above and beyond last week during a police incident in the small community of Canoe.

School had just let out at North Canoe Elementary in Salmon Arm Feb. 11 as police raced to the scene of a family disturbance call several blocks away. Pauline Kubiny was picking up her grandkids and watched five police cruisers shoot by.

A portion of the neighbourhood was blocked off as police negotiated the peaceful surrender of a 49-year-old man, RCMP Sgt. Scott West said.

At the time, no one knew what was going on, Kubiny says, but the school principal didn’t hesitate to take precautions.

Over the course of the police incident, Kubiny watched Weeks personally walk several students home to make sure they got there safely.

“We were so impressed with Mr. Weeks' actions in this event. He could have opted to drive the kids home, but I believe he chose to walk so that he could ensure there were no other children in harm’s way,” Kubiny says.

A humble Weeks says he was just doing his job and looking out for the kids, who were in Grade 3 to 5.

“It’s very nice and very thoughtful,” Weeks says of the attention he’s been getting. “I appreciate the time people have taken to do that, but I’m not looking for the limelight.”

Kubiny believes he went above and beyond what other administrators would have done, and has asked School District 83 to acknowledge his actions.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.