Saskatchewan officials to reach out to U.S. on school shootings

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says his province is in touch with officials in the United States for help rebuilding after a school shooting.

Wall said the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Bruce Heyman, called him Friday after four people were killed at the school and in a nearby home in the northern Saskatchewan community of La Loche.

“He noted that, quite tragically, the United States has more experience,” Wall said.

“He offered that perhaps those communities where these types of events have occurred in the past in his country … they might be able to provide some counsel, some support, some ideas around approaches for the days ahead.”

Wall said he has asked his deputy minister to “canvass that option with our American friends to find out perhaps what has worked better maybe than some other things.”

There have been many mass shootings at American schools in recent years, most notably one at Columbine high school Colorado that killed in 12 students and a teacher in 1999 and one at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 children and 6 staff in 2012.

Heyman sent out a statement after the La Loche shooting to express his condolences and solidarity.

“We have experienced similar tragedies far too often in the United States and understand all too well the heartache and sadness that result from such a horrific event,” he said.

RCMP have charged a 17-year-old boy in the La Loche shooting with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder. He is to appear in court next week.