TUMBLER RIDGE, BC — One week after unimaginable violence shattered the halls of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a grieving community is holding tightly to two powerful symbols of hope: 12-year-old Maya Gebala and 19-year-old Paige Hoekstra.
On February 10, a mass shooting claimed eight innocent lives — six children and two adults — leaving families devastated and a town forever changed. Yet amid the sorrow, stories of courage and survival are emerging.
Maya Gebala remains in critical condition at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver after being airlifted with gunshot wounds to the head and neck. In the chaos of that horrific day, Maya acted with stunning bravery, reportedly rushing to close and lock the library door to shield her classmates from danger. Her mother, Cia Edmonds, describes her daughter as a fighter whose strength continues to inspire doctors and loved ones alike.
Though the journey ahead is uncertain and doctors have confirmed significant brain trauma, there are encouraging signs. Maya has begun moving her left side, while swelling in her brain continues to decrease. She has shown tiny but powerful milestones — brief independent breaths, subtle eye flickers — moments her family calls “miracles in motion.”“The progress is so uplifting, I dread the day it plateaus,” her mother shared, holding on to cautious hope as prayers pour in from across the country.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Paige Hoekstra’s recovery has brought a surge of relief to the community. After undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound to the chest, doctors have officially cleared her to leave the hospital. Follow-up scans and tests confirmed she is stable and strong enough to return home to Tumbler Ridge, where she will continue healing surrounded by family and friends. Her loved ones say she is out of danger and focused on regaining her strength.
In a town weighed down by grief, Maya and Paige represent resilience, courage, and the unbreakable power of community. Their fight is far from over — but their stories are already lighting the way forward.